Window antennas for emitting radio frequency signals

ABSTRACT

In one aspect, an apparatus is described that includes a transparent pane having a first surface and a second surface. An electrochromic device is arranged over the second surface that includes a first conductive layer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers. The apparatus further includes at least one conductive antenna structure arranged over the second surface.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

An Application Data Sheet is filed concurrently with this specificationas part of the present application. Each application that the presentapplication claims benefit of or priority to as identified in theconcurrently filed Application Data Sheet is incorporated by referenceherein in its entirety and for all purposes.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates generally to electrochromic devices, which maybe used in electrochromic windows for buildings or other structures.

BACKGROUND

Electrochromism is a phenomenon in which a material exhibits areversible electrochemically-mediated change in one or more opticalproperties when stimulated to a different electronic state.Electrochromic materials, and the devices made from them, may beincorporated into, for example, windows for home, commercial, or otheruses. The color, transmittance, absorbance, or reflectance of suchelectrochromic windows can be changed by inducing a change in theelectrochromic material, for example, by applying a voltage across theelectrochromic material. Such capabilities can allow for control overthe intensities of various wavelengths of light that may pass throughthe window. For example, a first voltage applied to an electrochromicdevice of the window may cause the window to darken while a secondvoltage may cause the window to lighten.

Electrochromic devices, like most controllable optically-switchabledevices, contain electrical connections for controlling the applicationof electrical stimulus (for example, in the form of a controlled appliedvoltage and/or current) to drive optical transitions and/or to maintainoptical states. Electrochromic devices are frequently implemented asvery thin layers that cover the face of a surface such as a windowsurface. Such devices typically include transparent conductors, often inthe form of one or more layers that cover electrochromic electrodes anddistribute applied voltage over the face of the device to effect acomplete and efficient optical transmission.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure relates to a window configured tobe installed between an interior environment and an exteriorenvironment. The window includes (a) one or more lites, each lite havingtwo surfaces with regions configured for viewing through the window; (b)a plurality of antennas disposed on one or more of the surfaces of thelites, where the antennas are configured to emit radio frequency (RF)signals to the interior environment and/or to the exterior environment;and (c) a controller configured to control emission of the RF signalsfrom the antennas.

In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to independentlycontrol the emission of the RF signals from each of the antennas. Thecontroller may be further configured to control frequency, power,polarization and/or phase of the RF signals from each of the antennas.

In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to independentlycontrol the phase and/or frequency of the emitted RF signals so that theemitted RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere toprovide directionality and/or gain of the emitted RF signals whenconsidered as a whole.

In some cases, the controller may map the exterior environment or theinterior environment by independently controlling phase and/or frequencyof the RF signals emitted from the antennas.

In some cases, the antennas are configured to emit RF signals havingdifferent radiation patterns or different frequencies. The antennasinclude antennas such as a strip line or patch, a monopole antenna, afractal antenna, a Yagi antenna, or a log periodic antenna.

In some embodiments, antennas are patterned from a substantiallytransparent conductive material layer which may include, e.g., indiumtin oxide (ITO). In some embodiments, antennas may be patterned usingconductive material nano-printing. In some embodiments, antennas are inor on a transparent conductor layer.

In some cases, a window may also have an electrochromic device disposedon one or more surfaces of the lites. When a window has anelectrochromic device, the controller may also be configured to drive anoptical transition of the electrochromic device. An electrochromicdevice may include a transparent conductor layer, and in some cases, theantennas may be disposed in or on the transparent conductor layer.

In some embodiments, the controller may be configured to receive RFsignals from the interior environment or the exterior environment viathe antennas.

In some embodiments, the window has a ground plane disposed on one ofthe surfaces of the lites. A ground plane may, in some cases, beconfigured to block transmission of RF signals from antennas through thesurface on which the ground plane is disposed.

In some embodiments, a window may take the form of an insulated glassunit.

In some cases, the antennas may be configured to emit the RF signals atan industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio band.

Another aspect of this disclosure pertains to a building that includes(a) a plurality of windows; (b) a plurality of antennas disposed in oron the plurality of windows, each antenna configured to emit radiofrequency (RF) signals into and/or out of the building; and (C) one ormore controllers, where the controllers are configured to control theemission of RF signals by the plurality of antennas.

In some embodiments, the controllers may be configured to independentlycontrol the frequencies and/or phases of the emitted RF signals, so thatemitted RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere toprovide directionality of the RF signals when considered as a whole.

In some embodiments, the building may include additional antenna(s) thatare configured to receive RF signals.

In some embodiments, the controllers may be configured to map anexterior environment or an interior environment of the building based onRF signals received by the antennas.

In some embodiments, at least one window is configured to block thetransmission of RF signals through the at least one window.

In some embodiments, at least one of the windows includes anelectrochromic device.

Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to monitoring the location ofa device or an asset containing the device, where the device isconfigured to be detected by an antenna. The method for monitoring adevice or asset includes: (a) determining that one or more firstantennas has received a first electromagnetic transmission from thedevice, where the one or more first antennas are disposed on opticallyswitchable windows and/or window controllers in a building; (b)determining a first location of the device by analyzing information fromreception of the first electromagnetic transmission by the one or morefirst antennas; (c) after (a), determining that one or more secondantennas has received a second electromagnetic transmission from thedevice, where the one or more second antennas are disposed on opticallyswitchable windows or window controllers in the building; (d)determining a second location of the device by analyzing informationfrom reception of the second electromagnetic transmission by the atleast one or more second antennas; and (e) determining whether thedevice has crossed a virtual boundary by moving from the first locationto the second location.

Alternatively, in certain embodiments the method for monitoring a deviceor asset may include: (a) determining that the device has received afirst electromagnetic transmission from one or more first antennas,where the one or more first antennas are disposed on opticallyswitchable windows and/or window controllers in a building; (b)determining a first location of the device by analyzing information fromreception of the first electromagnetic transmission by the device; (c)after (a), determining that the device has received a secondelectromagnetic transmission from one or more second antennas, where theone or more second antennas are disposed on optically switchable windowsand/or window controllers in the building; (d) determining a secondlocation of the device by analyzing information from reception of thesecond electromagnetic transmission by the device; and (e) determiningwhether the device has crossed a virtual boundary by moving from thefirst location to the second location.

These methods may include various additional operations or combinationsof additional operations. For example, an alert may be sent, or an alarmmay be triggered, after determining that the device has crossed thevirtual boundary in moving from the first location to the secondlocation. In another example, the location and/or movement of the devicemay be sent to an ancillary system after determining that the device hascrossed the virtual boundary in moving from the first location to thesecond location. An ancillary system may be a security system, abuilding management system, a lighting system for the building, aninventory system, and a safety system. In yet another example, movementof the device may be blocked after determining that the device hascrossed the virtual boundary in moving from the first location to thesecond location.

In some instances, the location of a virtual boundary may be determinedprior to (e) when the virtual boundary varies based on time, a type ofthe device or asset, and/or permissions granted to an individualassociated with the device or asset. In some instances, the location ofthe virtual boundary may be modified or reset. In some instances, thefirst location of the device may be determined to a resolution of about1 meter or less, about 10 cm or less, or about 5 cm or less.

The first and second antennas may part of a network having at least onenetwork controller or master controller having logic to control thetransmission or reception of the first and second electromagnetictransmissions. In some of these cases, the master controller uses theinformation from the reception of the first and second electromagnetictransmissions in (b) and (d) to determine whether the device has crossedthe virtual boundary in moving from the first location to the secondlocation.

A device may be configured to operate on one or more communicationprotocols. For example, a device may have a transmitter configured togenerate a Bluetooth beacon or a transmitter configured to transmitWi-Fi, Zigbee, or ultra-wideband (UWB) signals. In some instances, adevice has a micro-location chip configured to transmit and/or receivepulse-based ultra-wideband (UWB) signals, and in some cases, a devicehas a passive or active radio frequency identification (RFID) tag. Insome instances, the device may be a mobile device.

The location of a device may be determined by various means describedherein. For example, the first and/or second location of the device maybe determined by measuring the time of arrival of signals from the oneor more first antennas at known locations, by measuring the strength ofa received signal to determine proximity of the device to the one ormore first and/or second antennas, and/or by using inertial or magneticinformation sensed by the device. In some cases, the first and/or secondlocation of the device may be determined without using GPS data.

In some cases, at least one of the first and/or second antennas may be amonopole antenna, a strip line or a patch antenna, a Sierpinski antenna,or a fractal antenna. In some cases, at least one of the second antennasis the same as at least one of the first antennas. The antennas may beoriented to receive signals arriving in differing angular relation. Insome cases, a ground plane may be disposed on a surface of at least oneof the optically switchable windows. In some cases, a monitored assetmay be a medical device or a medical supply.

Another aspect of the disclosure pertains to a method of deliveringpower by wireless transmission to an electrochromic device disposed on abuilding in which power is to be delivered to the electrochromic devicevia one or more first receivers, each having one or more first antennas.Wireless power delivery occurs by causing a transmitter to wirelesslytransmit power by electromagnetic transmission to one or more of thefirst antennas, and receiving the wirelessly transmitted power at one ormore of the first receivers with one or more of the first antennas. Thefirst antennas, that receive the wirelessly transmitted power, may bedisposed on one or more electrochromic windows including theelectrochromic device and/or on one or more window controllersconfigured to control the electrochromic device.

This method may additionally include determining that power is to bedelivered to one or more additional electrochromic devices in (a) viaone or more second receivers, each having one or more second antennas,wirelessly transmitting power to one or more second antennas in (b), andreceiving the wirelessly transmitted power at one or more secondreceivers in (c) with one or more of the second antennas. In some cases,wireless power may be transmitted in (b), by causing the transmitter toalternate transmitting power between the first and second antennas.

In some instances, this method also includes determining that power isto be delivered to one or more non-electrochromic devices in (a) via oneor more second receivers, each having one or more second antennas,wirelessly transmitting power to one or more second antennas in (b), andreceiving the wirelessly transmitted power at one or more secondreceivers in (c) with one or more of the second antennas.

In some instances the method includes additional operations orcombinations of operations. For example, the method may include, drivingan optical transition of the electrochromic device with the receivedpower, storing the received power in a battery or capacitor anddischarging power stored in the battery or capacitor to drive an opticaltransition of the electrochromic device, and/or determining whether thewirelessly transmitted power received at the one or more of thereceivers is used to power an optical transition of the electrochromicdevice or is stored in an energy storage device.

In some cases, the receiver may include a rectifier and a converter. Insome cases, determining that power is to be delivered to theelectrochromic device includes determining the position of theelectrochromic device using a micro-location chip. In some cases, theone or more first antennas are patch antennas having length and widthdimensions that are between about 1 mm and 25 mm.

In some cases, the one or more the first antennas are one or more of thesecond antennas, and in some cases, one or more the first receivers areone or more of the second receivers. In some cases, the transmitterincludes an array of antennas configured to simultaneously deliverelectromagnetic transmissions that form constructive interferencepatterns at a defined location in the building.

Another aspect of the present disclosure pertains to a window that maybe used for electromagnetic shielding. The window includes (a) one ormore transparent lites having a first surface and a second surface; (b)an electrochromic device (ECD) disposed on a first surface of the one ormore lites and including: a first conductive layer adjacent the secondsurface, a second conductive layer, and an electrochromic layer betweenthe first and the second conductive layers; (c) at least one conductiveantenna structure arranged over the first surface or a second surface ofthe one or more lites; and (d) an electromagnetic shield having at leastone electroconductive layer (e.g., a silver layer), with at least oneadjacent antireflective layer, the shield being located between oradjacent to the first surface, the second surface, or another surface ofthe one or more lites.

In some embodiments, the electromagnetic shield may include at least twoelectroconductive layers, each having at least one adjacentantireflective layer, where the antireflective layers are not inphysical contact with each other.

Another aspect of this disclosure relates to a window structure. Thewindow includes (a) one or more transparent lites having a first surfaceand a second surface; (b) an electrochromic device (ECD) disposed on afirst surface of the one or more lites and including: a first conductivelayer adjacent the second surface, a second conductive layer, and anelectrochromic layer between the first and the second conductive layers;and (c) an electromagnetic shielding film having at least oneelectroconductive layer, with at least one adjacent antireflectivelayer, the shield being mounted on or adjacent to the first surface, thesecond surface, or another surface of the one or more lites.

The some embodiments, the electromagnetic shielding film by be describedby one or more of the following items: (1) the electromagnetic shieldingfilm has at least two electroconductive layers, each having at least oneadjacent antireflective layer, where the antireflective layers are notin physical contact with each other; (2) at least electroconductivelayer of the electromagnetic shielding film is a silver layer; (3) theelectromagnetic shielding film has a total thickness, when mounted on alite, of between about 25 and 1000 μm; (4) the electromagnetic shieldingfilm is flexible when not mounted on the first surface, the secondsurface, or another surface of the one or more lites.

In some embodiments, the electroconductive layer includes at least twometal or metal alloy sublayers. One or more of these metal or metalalloy sublayers may be an index matching sublayer.

Another aspect of the disclosure relates to a system for monitoring thelocation of a device or an asset containing the device, where the deviceis configured to be detected by an antenna. The systems includes anetwork having a plurality of antennas disposed on optically switchablewindows and/or window controllers in a building and location logicconfigured to: (a) determine that one or more first antennas of theplurality of antennas has received a first electromagnetic transmissionfrom the device; (b) determine a first location of the device byanalyzing information from reception of the first electromagnetictransmission by the one or more first antennas; (c) after (a), determinethat one or more second antennas of the plurality of antennas hasreceived a second electromagnetic transmission from the device; (d)determine a second location of the device by analyzing information fromreception of the second electromagnetic transmission by the at least oneor more second antennas; and (e) determine whether the device hascrossed a virtual boundary by moving from the first location to thesecond location.

In some embodiments, location logic may be configured to send alerts,trigger alarms, and/or communicate with ancillary systems afterdetermining that the device has crossed the virtual boundary from thefirst location to the second location. In some embodiments, the locationlogic may be configured adjust the virtual boundary based upon time,permissions granted to a user, and/or permissions granted to a user.

In some embodiments, the first and/or second location of the device maybe determined to a resolution of about 1 meter or less, or in somecases, about 10 cm or less. Determining the first and/or second locationof the device may include measuring the strength of a received signal todetermine proximity of the device to the one or more first and/or secondantennas. Alternatively or additionally, determining the first and/orsecond location of the device may include using inertial or magneticinformation sensed by the device.

In some embodiments, the first and second antennas of are part of anetwork having at least one network controller or master controller thatincludes the location logic. In some embodiments at least one of thefirst and/or second antennas is a monopole antenna, a strip line or apatch antenna, a Sierpinski antenna, or a fractal antenna. In someembodiments, at least one of the first and/or second antennas includes aground plane disposed on a surface of at least one of the opticallyswitchable windows. In some cases, the device includes a micro-locationchip configured to transmit and/or receive pulse-based ultra-wideband(UWB) signals.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system fordelivering power by wireless transmission to an electrochromic device.The system includes (a) a transmitter to wirelessly transmit power byelectromagnetic transmission; (b) one or more first receivers, eachhaving one or more first antennas, where the one or more first antennasare disposed (i) on one or more electrochromic windows including theelectrochromic device and/or (ii) on one or more window controllersconfigured to control the electrochromic device; and (c) logic device(s)configured or programmed to determine that power is to be delivered tothe electrochromic device via one or more first receivers, and cause thetransmitter to wirelessly transmit power by electromagnetic transmissionto one or more of the first antennas.

In some embodiments, the logic device(s) may be configured or programmedto determine that power is to be delivered to one or more additionalelectrochromic devices in via one or more second receivers, each havingone or more second antennas. When it is determined that power is to bedelivered to one or more additional electrochromic devices, the logicdevice(s) may cause the transmitter to alternate between transmittingpower between the first and second antennas.

In some embodiments, the logic device(s) are configured or programmed todetermine that power is to be delivered to one or morenon-electrochromic devices in (a) via one or more second receivers, eachhaving one or more second antennas. In some embodiments, the logicdevice(s) are configured or programmed to determine whether thewirelessly transmitted power received at the one or more of thereceivers is used to power an optical transition of the electrochromicdevice or is stored in an energy storage device.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a system formonitoring the location of a device or an asset containing the device,where the device is configured to be detected by an antenna. The systemincludes a network having a plurality of antennas disposed on opticallyswitchable windows and/or window controllers in a building; and locationlogic configured to: (a) determine that one or more first antennas ofthe plurality of antennas has received a first electromagnetictransmission from the device; (b) determine a first location of thedevice by analyzing information from reception of the firstelectromagnetic transmission by the one or more first antennas; (c)after (a), determine that one or more second antennas of the pluralityof antennas has received a second electromagnetic transmission from thedevice; (d) determine a second location of the device by analyzinginformation from reception of the second electromagnetic transmission bythe at least one or more second antennas; and (e) determine whether thedevice has crossed a virtual boundary by moving from the first locationto the second location.

Certain aspects of this disclosure pertain to computer program productshaving stored instructions, which when executed on a computer, interfacewith a user and present a user interface which allows a user to select adesired asset from a list of possible assets, receiving the firstlocation or the second location (whichever is current) of the asset fromthe location logic, and displaying on the user interface instructionsfor guiding the user to the first location or the second location.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an insulated glassunit (IGU) including an electrochromic device coating and a shieldingstack comprising a metal layer, wherein the shielding stack isselectively controlled to block electromagnetic radiation by groundingthe metal layer. The IGU may have an antenna for receiving and/ortransmitting information and/or wireless power to and from the IGU. Insome cases, the metal layer serves as a ground plane for the antenna.

In some embodiments, the electrochromic device coating and the shieldstack share at least one common layer. In some embodiments, the metallayer may be selectively grounded by a window controller that is alsoconfigured to control optical transitions of the electrochromic devicecoating. In some embodiments, one or both lites of the IGU have alaminate structure. In some cases, the electrochromic device is on anon-laminated lite and the shielding stack in on a laminated lite. Insome cases, both the electrochromic device and the shielding stack areon laminated devices.

These and other features of window antennas will be further described inthe Detailed Description with reference to the associated drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A shows a depiction of an example system for controlling anddriving a plurality of electrochromic windows.

FIG. 1B shows a depiction of another example system for controlling anddriving a plurality of electrochromic windows.

FIG. 1C shows a block diagram of an example network system, 120,operable to control a plurality of IGUs in accordance with someimplementations.

FIG. 1D is a schematic of an EC window controller.

FIGS. 2A-2J show cross-sectional views of example electrochromic windowstructures with integrated antennas capable of transmitting signalsinto, or receiving signals from, an interior environment according tosome implementations.

FIGS. 3A-3J show cross-sectional views of example electrochromic windowstructures with integrated antennas capable of transmitting signals outto, or receiving signals from, an exterior environment according to someimplementations.

FIGS. 4A and 4B show cross-sectional views of example electrochromicwindow structures with integrated antennas capable of transmitting andreceiving signals to and from interior and exterior environmentsaccording to some implementations.

FIGS. 5A and 5B show cross-sectional views of example electrochromicwindow structures with integrated antennas according to someimplementations.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show plan views of example electrochromic windowstructures with integrated antennas according to some implementations.Plan views are taken from a front on perspective of the window, as forexample, seen by a building occupant standing in a room having a windowinstalled in a wall or façade.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show top views of example electrochromic windowstructures with integrated multi-structure antennas according to someimplementations.

FIG. 7C shows a top view of a Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA)arrangement.

FIG. 7D shows a cross sectional view of a Planar Inverted-F Antenna(PIFA) arrangement.

FIGS. 8A-C show examples and information about Sierpinski fractal windowantennas.

FIGS. 8D and 8E show top views of example electrochromic windowstructures with integrated fractal-based antennas according to someimplementations.

FIG. 9A shows a simplified view of an example monopole antenna for awindow.

FIGS. 9B-C show example embodiments where multiple antennas are providedon a lite and/or other window structure.

FIG. 9D shows an example of a patch antenna and a ground plane stripdisposed on the same surface of a lite.

FIGS. 10A-F illustrate various interconnect structures for providingseparate connections to antenna structures and ground planes.

FIGS. 11A-H illustrate designs in which an antenna controller (receiverand/or transmitter logic) is provided on a window, in some cases alongwith a window controller, and arranged to deliver signal to communicatewith antenna elements on the window.

FIG. 12 shows an example array of electrochromic window structures withintegrated antennas according to some implementations.

FIGS. 13A and 13B depict conventional cell tower networks and cellularnetworks where buildings fitted with antennae glass serve as celltowers, respectively.

FIGS. 14A-G depict aspects of certain embodiments for using windowantennas to commission switchable windows in a building or otherfacility.

FIGS. 15 A-D depict various examples of a window/controller networkconfigured for monitoring the movement of a device/user within abuilding.

FIG. 16 depicts two shielding stacks that may be used in IGU structuresto provide electromagnetic shielding.

FIG. 17 depicts the interior of a room that is configured for wirelesspower transmission.

FIG. 18 illustrates the components of a transmitter for wireless powerdelivery.

FIG. 19 illustrates the components of a receiver for wireless powerdelivery.

FIG. 20 depicts shielding stacks having two electroconductive layers andhaving three electroconductive layers.

FIG. 21 depicts a shielding film that may be mounted onto the surface ofa lite to provide electromagnetic shielding.

Like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicatelike elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is directed to certain embodiments orimplementations for the purposes of describing the disclosed aspects.However, the teachings herein can be applied and implemented in amultitude of different ways. In the following detailed description,references are made to the accompanying drawings. Although the disclosedimplementations are described in sufficient detail to enable one skilledin the art to practice the implementations, it is to be understood thatthese examples are not limiting; other implementations may be used andchanges may be made to the disclosed implementations without departingfrom their spirit and scope. Furthermore, while the disclosedembodiments focus on electrochromic windows (also referred to as smartwindows), the concepts disclosed herein may apply to other types ofswitchable optical devices including, for example, liquid crystaldevices and suspended particle devices, among others. For example, aliquid crystal device or a suspended particle device, rather than anelectrochromic device, could be incorporated into some or all of thedisclosed implementations. Additionally, the conjunction “or” isintended herein in the inclusive sense where appropriate unlessotherwise indicated; for example, the phrase “A, B or C” is intended toinclude the possibilities of “A,” “B,” “C,” “A and B,” “B and C,” “A andC” and “A, B and C.”

Window Controller Networks

FIG. 1A shows a depiction of an example system 100 for controlling anddriving a plurality of electrochromic windows 102. It may also beemployed to control the operation of one or more window antennas asdescribed elsewhere herein. The system 100 can be adapted for use with abuilding 104 such as a commercial office building or a residentialbuilding. In some implementations, the system 100 is designed to(hereinafter “designed to,” “adapted to,” “configured to,” “programmedto”, “operable to”, and “capable of” may be used interchangeably whereappropriate) to function in conjunction with modern heating,ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems 106, interior lightingsystems 107, security systems 108 and power systems 109 as a singleholistic and efficient energy control system for the entire building104, or a campus of buildings 104. Some implementations of the system100 are particularly well-suited for integration with a buildingmanagement system (BMS) 110. The BMS 110 is a computer-based controlsystem that can be installed in a building to monitor and control thebuilding's mechanical and electrical equipment such as HVAC systems,lighting systems, power systems, elevators, fire systems, and securitysystems. The BMS 110 can include hardware and associated firmware orsoftware for maintaining conditions in the building 104 according topreferences set by the occupants or by a building manager or otheradministrator. The software can be based on, for example, internetprotocols or open standards.

A BMS can typically be used in large buildings where it functions tocontrol the environment within the building. For example, the BMS 110can control lighting, temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and humiditywithin the building 104. There can be numerous mechanical or electricaldevices that are controlled by the BMS 110 including, for example,furnaces or other heaters, air conditioners, blowers, and vents. Tocontrol the building environment, the BMS 110 can turn on and off thesevarious devices according to rules or in response to conditions. Suchrules and conditions can be selected or specified by a building manageror administrator, for example. One primary function of the BMS 110 is tomaintain a comfortable environment for the occupants of the building 104while minimizing heating and cooling energy losses and costs. In someimplementations, the BMS 110 can be configured not only to monitor andcontrol, but also to optimize the synergy between various systems, forexample, to conserve energy and lower building operation costs.

Some implementations are alternatively or additionally designed tofunction responsively or reactively based on feedback sensed through,for example, thermal, optical, or other sensors or through input from,for example, an HVAC or interior lighting system, or an input from auser control. Further information may be found in U.S. Pat. No.8,705,162, issued Apr. 22, 2014, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. Some implementations also can be utilized inexisting structures, including both commercial and residentialstructures, having traditional or conventional HVAC or interior lightingsystems. Some implementations also can be retrofitted for use in olderresidential homes.

The system 100 includes a network controller 112 configured to control aplurality of window controllers 114. For example, the network controller112 can control tens, hundreds, or even thousands of window controllers114. Each window controller 114, in turn, can control and drive one ormore electrochromic windows 102. In some implementations, the networkcontroller 112 issues high level instructions such as the final tintstate of an electrochromic window and the window controllers receivethese commands and directly control their windows by applying electricalstimuli to appropriately drive tint state transitions and/or maintaintint states. The number and size of the electrochromic windows 102 thateach window controller 114 can drive is generally limited by the voltageand current characteristics of the load on the window controller 114controlling the respective electrochromic windows 102. In someimplementations, the maximum window size that each window controller 114can drive is limited by the voltage, current, or power requirements tocause the desired optical transitions in the electrochromic window 102within a desired time-frame. Such requirements are, in turn, a functionof the surface area of the window. In some implementations, thisrelationship is nonlinear. For example, the voltage, current, or powerrequirements can increase nonlinearly with the surface area of theelectrochromic window 102. For example, in some cases the relationshipis nonlinear at least in part because the sheet resistance of the firstand second conductive layers 214 and 216 (see, for example, FIG. 2A)increases nonlinearly with distance across the length and width of thefirst or second conductive layers. In some implementations, therelationship between the voltage, current, or power requirementsrequired to drive multiple electrochromic windows 102 of equal size andshape is, however, directly proportional to the number of theelectrochromic windows 102 being driven.

FIG. 1B shows a depiction of another example system 100 for controllingand driving a plurality of electrochromic windows 102. The system 100shown in FIG. 1B is similar to the system 100 shown and described withreference to FIG. 1A. In contrast to the system of FIG. 1A, the system100 shown in FIG. 1B includes a master controller 111. The mastercontroller 111 communicates and functions in conjunction with multiplenetwork controllers 112, each of which network controllers 112 iscapable of addressing a plurality of window controllers 114 as describedwith reference to FIG. 1A. In some implementations, the mastercontroller 111 issues the high level instructions (such as the finaltint states of the electrochromic windows) to the network controllers112, and the network controllers 112 then communicate the instructionsto the corresponding window controllers 114.

In some implementations, the various electrochromic windows 102 and/orantennas of the building or other structure are advantageously groupedinto zones or groups of zones, each of which includes a subset of theelectrochromic windows 102. For example, each zone may correspond to aset of electrochromic windows 102 in a specific location or area of thebuilding that should be tinted (or otherwise transitioned) to the sameor similar optical states based on their location. As a more specificexample, consider a building having four faces or sides: a North face, aSouth face, an East Face and a West Face. Consider also that thebuilding has ten floors. In such a didactic example, each zone cancorrespond to the set of electrochromic windows 102 on a particularfloor and on a particular one of the four faces. In some suchimplementations, each network controller 112 can address one or morezones or groups of zones. For example, the master controller 111 canissue a final tint state command for a particular zone or group of zonesto a respective one or more of the network controllers 112. For example,the final tint state command can include an abstract identification ofeach of the target zones. The designated network controllers 112receiving the final tint state command can then map the abstractidentification of the zone(s) to the specific network addresses of therespective window controllers 114 that control the voltage or currentprofiles to be applied to the electrochromic windows 102 in the zone(s).

In the added aspect that the electrochromic windows may have antennas,e.g. configured for one or more purposes, zones of windows for tintingpurposes may or may not correspond to zones for antenna-relatedfunctions. For example, a master and/or network controller may identifytwo distinct zones of windows for tinting purposes, e.g. two floors ofwindows on a single side of a building, where each floor has differenttinting algorithms based on customer preferences. At the same time,these two tinting zones may be a single zone for antenna transmittingand/or receiving purposes or the “antenna zone” may include otherwindows, whether singly or as zones. Antenna-EC glass enables a broadvariety of functionality by providing distinct functions of a tintablecoating and an antenna. The antennae may serve not only the tintablecoating function but also other functions as described in more detailherein.

Aspects of network systems for optically switchable windows andassociated antennas are further described in U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/248,181, filed Oct. 29, 2015, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

In many instances, optically-switchable windows can form or occupysubstantial portions of a building envelope. For example, theoptically-switchable windows can form substantial portions of the walls,facades and even roofs of a corporate office building, other commercialbuilding or a residential building. In various implementations, adistributed network of controllers can be used to control theoptically-switchable windows. FIG. 1C shows a block diagram of anexample network system, 300, operable to control a plurality of IGUs 302with window antennas in accordance with some implementations. Forexample, each of the IGUs 302 can be the same or similar to the IGU 100described above with reference to FIG. 1 . One primary function of thenetwork system 300 is controlling the optical states of the ECDs (orother optically-switchable devices) and/or the transmission and/orreception characteristics of window antennas within the IGUs 302. Insome implementations, one or more of the windows 302 can be multi-zonedwindows, for example, where each window includes two or moreindependently controllable ECDs or zones. In various implementations,the network system 300 is operable to control the electricalcharacteristics of the power signals provided to the IGUs 302. Forexample, the network system 300 can generate and communicate tintinginstructions (also referred to herein as “tint commands”) to controlvoltages applied to the ECDs within the IGUs 302.

In some implementations, another function of the network system 300 isto acquire status information from the IGUs 302 (hereinafter“information” is used interchangeably with “data”). For example, thestatus information for a given IGU can include an identification of, orinformation about, a current tint state of the ECD(s) within the IGU.The network system 300 also can be operable to acquire data from varioussensors, such as temperature sensors, photosensors (also referred toherein as light sensors), humidity sensors, air flow sensors, oroccupancy sensors, antennas, whether integrated on or within the IGUs302 or located at various other positions in, on or around the building.

The network system 300 can include any suitable number of distributedcontrollers having various capabilities or functions. In someimplementations, the functions and arrangements of the variouscontrollers are defined hierarchically. For example, the network system300 includes a plurality of distributed window controllers (WCs) 304, aplurality of network controllers (NCs) 306, and a master controller (MC)308. In some implementations, the MC 308 can communicate with andcontrol tens or hundreds of NCs 306. In various implementations, the MC308 issues high level instructions to the NCs 306 over one or more wiredor wireless links 316 (hereinafter collectively referred to as “link316”). The instructions can include, for example, tint commands forcausing transitions in the optical states of the IGUs 302 controlled bythe respective NCs 306. Each NC 306 can, in turn, communicate with andcontrol a number of WCs 304 over one or more wired or wireless links 314(hereinafter collectively referred to as “link 314”). For example, eachNC 306 can control tens or hundreds of the WCs 304. Each WC 304 can, inturn, communicate with, drive or otherwise control one or morerespective IGUs 302 over one or more wired or wireless links 312(hereinafter collectively referred to as “link 312”).

The MC 308 can issue communications including tint commands, statusrequest commands, data (for example, sensor data) request commands orother instructions. In some implementations, the MC 308 can issue suchcommunications periodically, at certain predefined times of day (whichmay change based on the day of week or year), or based on the detectionof particular events, conditions or combinations of events or conditions(for example, as determined by acquired sensor data or based on thereceipt of a request initiated by a user or by an application or acombination of such sensor data and such a request). In someimplementations, when the MC 308 determines to cause a tint state changein a set of one or more IGUs 302, the MC 308 generates or selects a tintvalue corresponding to the desired tint state. In some implementations,the set of IGUs 302 is associated with a first protocol identifier (ID)(for example, a BACnet ID). The MC 308 then generates and transmits acommunication—referred to herein as a “primary tint command”—includingthe tint value and the first protocol ID over the link 316 via a firstcommunication protocol (for example, a BACnet compatible protocol). Insome implementations, the MC 308 addresses the primary tint command tothe particular NC 306 that controls the particular one or more WCs 304that, in turn, control the set of IGUs 302 to be transitioned. The NC306 receives the primary tint command including the tint value and thefirst protocol ID and maps the first protocol ID to one or more secondprotocol IDs. In some implementations, each of the second protocol IDsidentifies a corresponding one of the WCs 304. The NC 306 subsequentlytransmits a secondary tint command including the tint value to each ofthe identified WCs 304 over the link 314 via a second communicationprotocol. In some implementations, each of the WCs 304 that receives thesecondary tint command then selects a voltage or current profile from aninternal memory based on the tint value to drive its respectivelyconnected IGUs 302 to a tint state consistent with the tint value. Eachof the WCs 304 then generates and provides voltage or current signalsover the link 312 to its respectively connected IGUs 302 to apply thevoltage or current profile.

In some implementations, the various IGUs 302 can be advantageouslygrouped into zones of EC windows, each of which zones includes a subsetof the IGUs 302. In some implementations, each zone of IGUs 302 iscontrolled by one or more respective NCs 306 and one or more respectiveWCs 304 controlled by these NCs 306. In some more specificimplementations, each zone can be controlled by a single NC 306 and twoor more WCs 304 controlled by the single NC 306. Said another way, azone can represent a logical grouping of the IGUs 302. For example, eachzone may correspond to a set of IGUs 302 in a specific location or areaof the building that are driven together based on their location. As amore specific example, consider a building having four faces or sides: aNorth face, a South face, an East Face and a West Face. Consider alsothat the building has ten floors. In such a didactic example, each zonecan correspond to the set of electrochromic windows 100 on a particularfloor and on a particular one of the four faces. Additionally oralternatively, each zone may correspond to a set of IGUs 302 that shareone or more physical characteristics (for example, device parameterssuch as size or age). In some other implementations, a zone of IGUs 302can be grouped based on one or more non-physical characteristics suchas, for example, a security designation or a business hierarchy (forexample, IGUs 302 bounding managers' offices can be grouped in one ormore zones while IGUs 302 bounding non-managers' offices can be groupedin one or more different zones).

In some such implementations, each NC 306 can address all of the IGUs302 in each of one or more respective zones. For example, the MC 308 canissue a primary tint command to the NC 306 that controls a target zone.The primary tint command can include an abstract identification of thetarget zone (hereinafter also referred to as a “zone ID”). In some suchimplementations, the zone ID can be a first protocol ID such as thatjust described in the example above. In such cases, the NC 306 receivesthe primary tint command including the tint value and the zone ID andmaps the zone ID to the second protocol IDs associated with the WCs 304within the zone. In some other implementations, the zone ID can be ahigher level abstraction than the first protocol IDs. In such cases, theNC 306 can first map the zone ID to one or more first protocol IDs, andsubsequently map the first protocol IDs to the second protocol IDs.While the network examples presented herein pertain to tint commands forcontrolling optically tintable windows, the examples should beunderstood to also pertain to commands for controlling antenna operationin window antennas associated with the IGUs.

User or Third Party Interaction with Network

In some implementations, the MC 308 is coupled to one or moreoutward-facing networks, 310, (hereinafter collectively referred to as“the outward-facing network 310”) via one or more wired or wirelesslinks 318 (hereinafter “link 318”). In some such implementations, the MC308 can communicate acquired status information or sensor data to remotecomputers, mobile devices, servers, databases in or accessible by theoutward-facing network 310. In some implementations, variousapplications, including third party applications or cloud-basedapplications, executing within such remote devices can access data fromor provide data to the MC 308. In some implementations, authorized usersor applications can communicate requests to modify the tint states ofvarious IGUs 302 to the MC 308 via the network 310. In someimplementations, the MC 308 can first determine whether to grant therequest (for example, based on power considerations or based on whetherthe user has the appropriate authorization) prior to issuing a tint orantenna control command. The MC 308 can then calculate, determine,select or otherwise generate a tint value and transmit the tint value ina primary tint or other command to cause the tint state transitions inthe associated IGUs 302.

For example, a user can submit such a request from a computing device,such as a desktop computer, laptop computer, tablet computer or mobiledevice (for example, a smartphone). In some such implementations, theuser's computing device can execute a client-side application that iscapable of communicating with the MC 308, and in some instances, with amaster controller application executing within the MC 308. In some otherimplementations, the client-side application can communicate with aseparate application, in the same or a different physical device orsystem as the MC 308, which then communicates with the master controllerapplication to effect the desired tint state modifications. In someimplementations, the master controller application or other separateapplication can be used to authenticate the user to authorize requestssubmitted by the user. In some implementations, the user can select theIGUs 302 to be tinted or have their antennas controlled in a particularmanner (e.g., to activate Wi-Fi services), and inform the MC 308 of theselections, by entering a room number via the client-side application.

Additionally or alternatively, in some implementations, a user's mobiledevice or other computing device can communicate wirelessly with variousWCs 304. For example, a client-side application executing within auser's mobile device can transmit wireless communications including tintstate control signals to a WC 304 to control the tint or other states ofthe respective IGUs 302 connected to the WC 304. For example, the usercan use the client-side application to maintain or modify the tint orother states of the IGUs 302 adjoining a room occupied by the user (orto be occupied by the user or others at a future time). Such wirelesscommunications can be generated, formatted or transmitted using variouswireless network topologies and protocols (described in more detailbelow with reference to the WC 600 of FIG. 6 ).

In some such implementations, the control signals sent to the respectiveWC 304 from the user's mobile device (or other computing device) canoverride a tint or other value previously received by the WC 304 fromthe respective NC 306. In other words, the WC 304 can provide theapplied voltages to the IGUs 302 based on the control signals from theuser's computing device rather than based on the tint value. Forexample, a control algorithm or rule set stored in and executed by theWC 304 can dictate that one or more control signals from an authorizeduser's computing device take precedence over a tint value received fromthe NC 306. In some other instances, such as in high demand cases,control signals such as a tint value from the NC 306 may take precedenceover any control signals received by the WC 304 from a user's computingdevice. In some other instances, a control algorithm or rule set maydictate that tint overrides from only certain users or groups or classesof users may take precedence based on permissions granted to such users,as well as in some instances, other factors including time of day or thelocation of the IGUs 302.

In some implementations, based on the receipt of a control signal froman authorized user's computing device, the MC 308 can use informationabout a combination of known parameters to calculate, determine, selector otherwise generate a tint value that provides lighting conditionsdesirable for a typical user, while in some instances also being mindfulof power considerations. In some other implementations, the MC 308 candetermine the tint or other value based on preset preferences defined byor for the particular user that requested the tint or other state changevia the computing device. For example, the user may be required to entera password or otherwise login or obtain authorization to request a tintor other state change. In such instances, the MC 308 can determine theidentity of the user based on a password, a security token or based onan identifier of the particular mobile device or other computing device.After determining the user's identity, the MC 308 can then retrievepreset preferences for the user, and use the preset preferences alone orin combination with other parameters (such as power considerations orinformation from various sensors) to generate and transmit a tint valuefor use in tinting or otherwise controlling the respective IGUs 302.

Wall Devices

In some implementations, the network system 300 also can include wallswitches, dimmers or other tint-state-controlling devices. Such devicesalso are hereinafter collectively referred to as “wall devices,”although such devices need not be limited to wall-mountedimplementations (for example, such devices also can be located on aceiling or floor, or integrated on or within a desk or a conferencetable). For example, some or all of the offices, conference rooms orother rooms of the building can include such a wall device for use incontrolling the tint states of the adjoining IGUs 302. For example, theIGUs 302 adjoining a particular room can be grouped into a zone. Each ofthe wall devices can be operated by an end user (for example, anoccupant of the respective room) to control the tint state or otherfunctions or parameters of the IGUs 302 that adjoin the room. Forexample, at certain times of the day, the adjoining IGUs 302 may betinted to a dark state to reduce the amount of light energy entering theroom from the outside (for example, to reduce AC cooling requirements).Now suppose that a user desires to use the room. In variousimplementations, the user can operate the wall device to communicatecontrol signals to cause a tint state transition from the dark state toa lighter tint state.

In some implementations, each wall device can include one or moreswitches, buttons, dimmers, dials or other physical user interfacecontrols enabling the user to select a particular tint state or toincrease or decrease a current tinting level of the IGUs 302 adjoiningthe room. Additionally or alternatively, the wall device can include adisplay having a touchscreen interface enabling the user to select aparticular tint state (for example, by selecting a virtual button,selecting from a dropdown menu or by entering a tint level or tintingpercentage) or to modify the tint state (for example, by selecting a“darken” virtual button, a “lighten” virtual button, or by turning avirtual dial or sliding a virtual bar). In some other implementations,the wall device can include a docking interface enabling a user tophysically and communicatively dock a portable device such as asmartphone, multimedia device, tablet computer or other portablecomputing device (for example, an IPHONE, IPOD or IPAD produced byApple, Inc. of Cupertino, Calif.). In such implementations, the user cancontrol the tinting levels via input to the portable device, which isthen received by the wall device through the docking interface andsubsequently communicated to the MC 308, NC 306 or WC 304. In suchimplementations, the portable device may include an application forcommunicating with an API presented by the wall device.

For example, the wall device can transmit a request for a tint statechange to the MC 308. In some implementations, the MC 308 can firstdetermine whether to grant the request (for example, based on powerconsiderations or based on whether the user has the appropriateauthorizations/permissions). The MC 308 can then calculate, determine,select or otherwise generate a tint value and transmit the tint value ina primary tint command to cause the tint state transitions in theadjoining IGUs 302. In some such implementations, each wall device canbe connected with the MC 308 via one or more wired links (for example,over communication lines such as CAN or Ethernet compliant lines or overpower lines using power line communication techniques). In some otherimplementations, each wall device can be connected with the MC 308 viaone or more wireless links. In some other implementations, the walldevice can be connected (via one or more wired or wireless connections)with an outward-facing network 310 such as a customer-facing network,which then communicates with the MC 308 via link 318. A wall device mayserve as a cellular signal repeater, alone or with antenna-configuredelectrochromic windows.

In some implementations, the MC 308 can identify the IGUs 302 associatedwith the wall device based on previously programmed or discoveredinformation associating the wall device with the IGUs 302. In someimplementations, a control algorithm or rule set stored in and executedby the MC 308 can dictate that one or more control signals from a walldevice take precedence over a tint value previously generated by the MC308. In some other instances, such as in times of high demand (forexample, high power demand), a control algorithm or rule set stored inand executed by the MC 308 can dictate that the tint value previouslygenerated by the MC 308 takes precedence over any control signalsreceived from a wall device.

In some other implementations or instances, based on the receipt of atint-state-change request or control signal from a wall device, the MC308 can use information about a combination of known parameters togenerate a tint value that provides lighting conditions desirable for atypical user, while in some instances also being mindful of powerconsiderations. In some other implementations, the MC 308 can generatethe tint value based on preset preferences defined by or for theparticular user that requested the tint state change via the walldevice. For example, the user may be required to enter a password intothe wall device or to use a security token or security fob such as theIBUTTON or other 1-Wire device to gain access to the wall device. Insuch instances, the MC 308 can determine the identity of the user, basedon the password, security token or security fob, retrieve presetpreferences for the user, and use the preset preferences alone or incombination with other parameters (such as power considerations orinformation from various sensors) to calculate, determine, select orotherwise generate a tint value for the respective IGUs 302.

In some other implementations, the wall device can transmit a tint statechange request to the appropriate NC 306, which then communicates therequest, or a communication based on the request, to the MC 308. Forexample, each wall device can be connected with a corresponding NC 306via one or more wired links such as those just described for the MC 308or via a wireless link (such as those described below). In some otherimplementations, the wall device can transmit a request to theappropriate NC 306, which then itself determines whether to override aprimary tint command previously received from the MC 308 or a primary orsecondary tint command previously generated by the NC 306 (as describedbelow, the NC 306 can in some implementations generate tint commandswithout first receiving a tint command from an MC 308). In some otherimplementations, the wall device can communicate requests or controlsignals directly to the WC 304 that controls the adjoining IGUs 302. Forexample, each wall device can be connected with a corresponding WC 304via one or more wired links such as those just described for the MC 308or via a wireless link (such as those described below with reference tothe WC 600 of FIG. 6 ).

In some specific implementations, it is the NC 306 that determineswhether the control signals from the wall device should take priorityover a tint value previously generated by the NC 306. As describedabove, in some implementations, the wall device can communicate directlywith the NC 306. However, in some other implementations, the wall devicecan communicate requests directly to the MC 308 or directly to a WC 304,which then communicates the request to the NC 306. In still otherimplementations, the wall device can communicate requests to acustomer-facing network (such as a network managed by the owners oroperators of the building), which then passes the requests (or requestsbased therefrom) to the NC 306 either directly or indirectly by way ofthe MC 308. In some implementations, a control algorithm or rule setstored in and executed by the NC 306 can dictate that one or morecontrol signals from a wall device take precedence over a tint valuepreviously generated by the NC 306. In some other instances, such as intimes of high demand (for example, high power demand), a controlalgorithm or rule set stored in and executed by the NC 306 can dictatethat the tint value previously generated by the NC 306 takes precedenceover any control signals received from a wall device.

As described above with reference to the MC 308, in some otherimplementations, based on the receipt of a tint-state-change request orcontrol signal from a wall device, the NC 306 can use information abouta combination of known parameters to generate a tint value that provideslighting conditions desirable for a typical user, while in someinstances also being mindful of power considerations. In some otherimplementations, the NC 306 can generate the tint value based on presetpreferences defined by or for the particular user that requested thetint state change via the wall device. As described above with referenceto the MC 308, the user may be required to enter a password into thewall device or to use a security token or security fob such as theIBUTTON or other 1-Wire device to gain access to the wall device. Insuch instances, the NC 306 can communicate with the MC 308 to determinethe identity of the user, based on the password, security token orsecurity fob, retrieve preset preferences for the user, and use thepreset preferences alone or in combination with other parameters (suchas power considerations or information from various sensors) tocalculate, determine, select or otherwise generate a tint value for therespective IGUs 302.

In some implementations, the MC 308 is coupled to an external database(or “data store” or “data warehouse”) 320. In some implementations, thedatabase 320 can be a local database coupled with the MC 308 via a wiredhardware link 322. In some other implementations, the database 320 canbe a remote database or a cloud-based database accessible by the MC 308via an internal private network or over the outward-facing network 310.In some implementations, other computing devices, systems or serversalso can have access to read the data stored in the database 320, forexample, over the outward-facing network 310. Additionally, in someimplementations, one or more control applications or third partyapplications also can have access to read the data stored in thedatabase via the outward-facing network 310. In some cases, the MC 308stores a record of all tint commands including tint values issued by theMC 308 in the database 320. The MC 308 also can collect status andsensor data and store it in the database 320. In such instances, the WCs304 can collect the sensor data and status data from the IGUs 302 andcommunicate the sensor data and status data to the respective NCs 306over link 314 for communication to the MC 308 over link 316.Additionally or alternatively, the NCs 306 or the MC 308 themselves alsocan be connected to various sensors such as light, temperature oroccupancy sensors within the building as well as light or temperaturesensors positioned on, around or otherwise external to the building (forexample, on a roof of the building). In some implementations the NCs 306or the WCs 304 also can transmit status or sensor data directly to thedatabase 320 for storage.

Integration with Other Systems or Services

In some implementations, the network system 300 also can be designed tofunction in conjunction with modern heating, ventilation, and airconditioning (HVAC) systems, interior lighting systems, security systemsor power systems as an integrated and efficient energy control systemfor an entire building or a campus of buildings. Some implementations ofthe network system 300 are suited for integration with a buildingmanagement system (BMS), 324. A BMS is broadly a computer-based controlsystem that can be installed in a building to monitor and control thebuilding's mechanical and electrical equipment such as HVAC systems(including furnaces or other heaters, air conditioners, blowers andvents), lighting systems, power systems, elevators, fire systems, andsecurity systems. The BMS can include hardware and associated firmwareand software for maintaining conditions in the building according topreferences set by the occupants or by a building manager or otheradministrator. The software can be based on, for example, internetprotocols or open standards. A BMS can typically be used in largebuildings where it functions to control the environment within thebuilding. For example, the BMS can control lighting, temperature, carbondioxide levels, and humidity within the building. To control thebuilding environment, the BMS can turn on and off various mechanical andelectrical devices according to rules or in response to conditions. Suchrules and conditions can be selected or specified by a building manageror administrator, for example. One function of a BMS can be to maintaina comfortable environment for the occupants of a building whileminimizing heating and cooling energy losses and costs. In someimplementations, the BMS can be configured not only to monitor andcontrol, but also to optimize the synergy between various systems, forexample, to conserve energy and lower building operation costs.

Additionally or alternatively, some implementations of the networksystem 300 are suited for integration with a smart thermostat service,alert service (for example, fire detection), security service or otherappliance automation service. On example of a home automation service isNEST®, made by Nest Labs of Palo Alto, Calif., (NEST® is a registeredtrademark of Google, Inc. of Mountain View, Calif.). As used herein,references to a BMS can in some implementations also encompass, or bereplaced with, such other automation services.

In some implementations, the MC 308 and a separate automation service,such as a BMS 324, can communicate via an application programminginterface (API). For example, the API can execute in conjunction with amaster controller application (or platform) within the MC 308, or inconjunction with a building management application (or platform) withinthe BMS 324. The MC 308 and the BMS 324 can communicate over one or morewired links 326 or via the outward-facing network 310. In someinstances, the BMS 324 can communicate instructions for controlling theIGUs 302 to the MC 308, which then generates and transmits primary tintcommands to the appropriate NCs 306. In some implementations, the NCs306 or the WCs 304 also can communicate directly with the BMS 324(whether through a wired/hardware link or wirelessly through a wirelessdata link). In some implementations, the BMS 324 also can receive data,such as sensor data, status data and associated timestamp data,collected by one or more of the MC 308, the NCs 306 and the WCs 304. Forexample, the MC 308 can publish such data over the network 310. In someother implementations in which such data is stored in a database 320,the BMS 324 can have access to some or all of the data stored in thedatabase 320.

Window Controllers

Controllers used to control windows are described in various patents andapplications of View, Inc. Examples of such applications include U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/248,181, filed Oct. 29, 2015, U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/085,179, filed Nov. 24, 2014, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/449,248, filed Apr. 17, 2012, and U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/449,251, filed Apr. 17, 2012, each ofwhich is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 1D, depicts an example window controller 199 that may include logicand other features for controlling an antenna (e.g., transmitting and/orreceiving electromagnetic radiation signals to from the antenna).Controller 199 includes a power converter configured to convert a lowvoltage to the power requirements of (1) an EC device of an EC lite ofan IGU and/or (2) a window antenna. This power is typically fed to theEC device via a driver circuit (power driver). In one embodiment,controller 199 has a redundant power driver so that in the event onefails, there is a backup and the controller need not be replaced orrepaired. Transceiver logic, which may include a power driver for awindow antenna, may be included in controller 199. Although notexplicitly shown, one of the depicted power drivers may be configured todrive a window antenna electrode to transmit designated signals.

Controller 199 also includes a communication circuit (labeled“communication” in FIG. 1D) for receiving and sending commands to andfrom a remote controller (depicted in FIG. 1D as “master controller”).The communication circuit also serves to receive and send input to andfrom a local logic device (e.g., a microcontroller). In one embodiment,the power lines are also used to send and receive communications, forexample, via protocols such as Ethernet. The microcontroller includes alogic for controlling the at least one EC lite based on, e.g., inputreceived from one or more sensors and/or users. In this example sensors1-3 are, for example, external to controller 199, for example in thewindow frame or proximate the window frame. Alternatively, the sensors,if present, are located remotely, e.g., on the building's roof. In oneembodiment, the controller has at least one or more internal sensors.For example, controller 199 may also, or in the alternative, have“onboard” sensors 4 and 5. In one embodiment, the controller uses the ECdevice as a sensor, for example, by using current-voltage (I/V) dataobtained from sending one or more electrical pulses through the ECdevice and analyzing the feedback. This type of sensing capability isdescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/049,756, naming Brownet al. as inventors, titled “Multipurpose Controller for MultistateWindows,” which is incorporated by reference herein for all purposes. Awindow assembly may also include a PV cell, and the controller may usethe PV cell not only to generate power, but also as a photosensor. Themicrocontroller may also have logic for controlling window antennafunctions.

In one embodiment, the controller includes a chip, a card or a boardwhich includes appropriate logic, programmed and/or hard coded, forperforming one or more control functions. Power and communicationfunctions of controller 199 may be combined in a single chip, forexample, a programmable logic device (PLD) chip, field programmable gatearray (FPGA) or similar device. Such integrated circuits can combinelogic, control and power functions in a single programmable chip. In oneembodiment, where the EC window (or IGU) has two EC panes, the logic isconfigured to independently control each of the two EC panes. The logicmay also control transmission and/or reception of one or more antennasdisposed on the IGU. In one embodiment, the function of each of the twoEC panes, and optional window antenna(s) is controlled in a synergisticfashion, that is, so that each device is controlled in order tocomplement the other. For example, the desired level of lighttransmission, thermal insulative effect, antenna signal transmission,and/or other property are controlled via combination of states for eachof the individual devices and/or antenna(s). For example, one EC devicemay have a colored state while the other is used for resistive heating,for example, via a transparent electrode of the device. In anotherexample, the two EC device's colored states are controlled so that thecombined transmissivity is a desired outcome.

Controller 199 may also have wireless capabilities, such as control andpowering functions. For example, wireless controls, such as RF and/or IRcan be used as well as wireless communication such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi,ZigBee, EnOcean, LiFi (Light Fidelity) and the like to send instructionsto the microcontroller and for the microcontroller to send data out to,for example, other window controllers and/or a building managementsystem (BMS). Window antennas may be employed to send and/or receive thecontrol communications and/or power. Various wireless protocols may beused as appropriate. The optimal wireless protocol may depend on how thewindow is configured to receive power. For instance, if the window isself-powered through a means that produces relatively less power, acommunication protocol that uses relatively less power may be used.Similarly, if the window is permanently wired, for example with 24Vpower, there is less concern about conserving power, and a wirelessprotocol that requires relatively more power may be used. ZigBee is anexample of a protocol that uses relatively more power. Wi-Fi andBluetooth Low Energy are examples of protocols that use relatively lesspower. Protocols that use relatively less power may also be beneficialwhere the window is powered intermittently. LiFi refers to LightFidelity, which is a bidirectional, high-speed and networked wirelesscommunication technology similar to Wi-Fi_33. LiFi utilizes a lightsignal (e.g., visible light, infrared light, near-ultraviolet light,etc.) to convey information wirelessly. The light signal may be toorapid and/or dim for human perception, though such signals can be easilyperceived by appropriate receivers. In some cases, the LiFi signal maybe generated by one or more light emitting diode (LED), which may becoated with (or otherwise include) a material that allows for high datatransmission rates. Example materials may include perovskites. Oneparticular example material is cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃), which maybe provided in nanocrystalline form.

Wireless communication can be used in the window controller for at leastone of programming and/or operating the EC window and optionally thewindow antenna(s), collecting data from the EC window from sensors aswell as using the EC window as a relay point for wireless communication.Data collected from EC windows also may include count data such asnumber of times an EC device has been activated (cycled), efficiency ofthe EC device over time, and the like. Each of these wirelesscommunication features is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/049,756, naming Brown et al. as inventors, titled “MultipurposeController for Multistate Windows,” previously by reference above.

In certain embodiments, light is used to communicate with and/or power awindow/antenna controller. That is, light generated at a distance by,for example, a diode laser transmits power and/or control signals to awindow controller via an appropriate light transmission medium such as afiber optic cable or free space. Examples of suitable photonictransmission methods for window controllers are described in PCTApplication No. PCT/US13/56506, filed Aug. 23, 2013, and titled“PHOTONIC-POWERED EC DEVICES,” which is herein incorporated by referencein its entirety. In a particular embodiment, power is provided throughphotonic methods, while communication is provided via one or more windowantennas patterned onto a lite of an electrochromic window or anassociated IGU component. In another embodiment, power is providedthrough photonic methods, while communication is provided via Wi-Fi oranother wireless communication method using antennas.

Returning to the embodiment of FIG. 1D, controller 199 may also includean RFID tag and/or memory such as solid state serial memory (e.g. I2C orSPI) which may optionally be a programmable memory. Radio-frequencyidentification (RFID) involves interrogators (or readers), and tags (orlabels). RFID tags use communication via electromagnetic waves toexchange data between a terminal and an object, for example, for thepurpose of identification and tracking of the object. Some RFID tags canbe read from several meters away and beyond the line of sight of thereader.

Most RFID tags contain at least two parts. One is an integrated circuitfor storing and processing information, modulating and demodulating aradio-frequency (RF) signal, and other specialized functions. The otheris an antenna for receiving and transmitting the signal.

There are three types of RFID tags: passive RFID tags, which have nopower source and require an external electromagnetic field to initiate asignal transmission, active RFID tags, which contain a battery and cantransmit signals once a reader has been successfully identified, andbattery assisted passive (BAP) RFID tags, which require an externalsource to wake up but have significant higher forward link capabilityproviding greater range.

In one embodiment, the RFID tag or other memory is programmed with atleast one of the following types of data: warranty information,installation information (e.g., absolute and relative position andorientation of the window), vendor information, batch/inventoryinformation, EC device/IGU characteristics, antenna characteristics(e.g., number of antennas on an IGU, antenna type (monopole, stripline,patch, dipole, fractal, etc.), frequency ranges, radiation pattern(omnidirectional, half-cylindrical beam, etc.), and antenna size), ECdevice cycling information and customer information. Examples of ECdevice characteristics and IGU characteristics include, for example,window voltage (V_(W)), window current (I_(W)), EC coating temperature(T_(EC)), glass visible transmission (% T_(vis)), % tint command(external analog input from BMS), digital input states, and controllerstatus. Each of these represents upstream information that may beprovided from the controller to a BMS or window management system orother building device. The window voltage, window current, windowtemperature, and/or visible transmission level may be detected directlyfrom sensors on the windows. The % tint command may be provided to theBMS or other building device indicating that the controller has in facttaken action to implement a tint change, which change may have beenrequested by the building device. This can be important because otherbuilding systems such as HVAC systems might not recognize that a tintaction is being taken, as a window may require a few minutes (e.g., 10minutes) to change state after a tint action is initiated. Thus, an HVACaction may be deferred for an appropriate period of time to ensure thatthe tinting action has sufficient time to impact the buildingenvironment. The digital input states information may tell a BMS orother system that a manual action relevant to the smart window/antennahas been taken. Finally, the controller status may inform the BMS orother system that the controller in question is operational, or not, orhas some other status relevant to its overall functioning.

Examples of downstream data from a BMS or other building system that maybe provided to the controller include window drive configurationparameters, zone membership (e.g. what zone within the building is thiscontroller part of), % tint value, digital output states, and digitalcontrol (tint, bleach, auto, reboot, etc.). The window drive parametersmay define a control sequence (effectively an algorithm) for changing awindow state. Examples of window drive configuration parameters includebleach to color transition ramp rate, bleach to color transitionvoltage, initial coloration ramp rate, initial coloration voltage,initial coloration current limit, coloration hold voltage, colorationhold current limit, color to bleach transition ramp rate, color tobleach transition voltage, initial bleach ramp rate, initial bleachvoltage, initial bleach current limit, bleach hold voltage, bleach holdcurrent limit. Examples of the application of such window driveparameters are presented in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/049,623,filed Mar. 16, 2011, and titled “Controlling Transitions In OpticallySwitchable Devices,” and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/449,251,filed Apr. 17, 2012, and titled “Controller for Optically-SwitchableWindows,” both of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

As mentioned, a window controller may include logic (e.g., hardwareand/or software) for controlling a window antenna. The logic may includeone or more transceivers for controlling one or more window antennas,which may be located on one or more windows. For window antennas used inrelatively low-power applications such as Bluetooth (or Bluetooth LowEnergy), a transceiver may be co-located with a window controller,sometimes in the same enclosure such as a carrier depicted in FIGS.11A-C. For such applications, particularly where the antennacommunications consume only low or moderate bandwidth, the antennatransceiver may communicate over a window network such as one of thosedescribed above. Of course, even for such low-power applications asBluetooth, the antenna logic need not be disposed on the windowcontroller. Further, a parallel network may be used for thecommunicating with the window antenna(s).

For other applications such as Wi-Fi services (e.g., a Wi-Fi hotspot),the antenna control logic also may be deployed in the window controllerenclosure. If the antenna application consumes relatively littlebandwidth, a window network may be employed for communications with theantenna controller. For example, a CAN bus of a window network may beused to interface with the antenna transceiver. In other cases, such aswhere the antenna application consumes more bandwidth than the windownetwork can accommodate, a separate network may be deployed in thebuilding for antenna applications. In such cases and where the antennacontrol logic is provide in the window controller, the controller mayinclude a network adaptor such as an RJ45 jack (connector) to connectthe antenna transceiver to the antenna network.

In antenna applications requiring relatively high-power, high bandwidth,and/or control by a telecom carrier (e.g., AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, andT-Mobile), the antenna control logic and network may be providedentirely independent of the window control system (the window networkand controllers). Often, when the antenna is providing services for atelecom carrier, the carrier requires that the network and transceiverbe its own. Such services include, for example, cellular repeating. Forexample, the window antenna may be deployed in a cellular repeater,e.g., a local base station. In such cases, the window antennatransceiver need not be co-located with a local window controller.However, it will generally be desirable to provide the antenna controllogic proximate the window antenna, e.g., within about 30 feet.

IGU Structure, Generally

In the following description, each electrochromic window 202 will bereferred to as an “integrated glass unit (IGU)” 202, also referred to asan “insulated glass unit (IGU).” This convention is assumed, forexample, because it is common and can be desirable to have IGUs serve asthe fundamental constructs for holding electrochromic panes or lites.Additionally, IGUs, especially those having double- or triple-panewindow configurations, offer superior thermal insulation over singlepane configurations. However, this convention is for convenience onlyand is not intended to be limiting. Indeed, as described below, in someimplementations the basic unit of an electrochromic window can beconsidered to include a pane or substrate of transparent material, uponwhich an electrochromic coating, stack or device is formed, and to whichassociated electrical connections are coupled to drive theelectrochromic device. Electrochromic IGUs are described in variousreferences including U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/196,895, filedMar. 4, 2014; U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/085,179, filedNov. 26, 2014; and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/194,107,filed Jul. 17, 2015, each of which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. Of course, the antenna structures and functionsdisclosed herein are not limited to IGUs, and can be extended to anyother window structure including, in some cases, single electrochromiclites that are not part of an IGU or similar structure. Unless otherwisenoted, the descriptions of IGU embodiments can be extended to non-IGUcontexts. Even some embodiments requiring two or more lites can beimplemented in non-IGU contexts; e.g., embodiments employing twoparallel lites that are not part of an IGU and embodiments employing anelectrochromic lite and a parallel structure that does not obscure muchor any viewable area of the electrochromic lite.

Antennas in IGUS

Various implementations relate generally to an electrochromic IGU thatincludes one or more antennas. Particular implementations of the subjectmatter described in this disclosure can be implemented to realize one ormore of the following potential advantages. Some implementations relateto an IGU that includes both an electrochromic device (or otherswitchable optical device) and as one or more antennas. In someimplementations, various antenna structures described herein can beformed on, formed under, formed in or otherwise integrated with theelectrochromic device itself. In some other implementations, variousantenna structures can be formed on the same pane as the electrochromicdevice, but on an opposite surface from that on which the electrochromicdevice is formed. In some other implementations, various antennastructures can be formed on a different pane as the electrochromicdevice, for example, in an IGU that includes two or more panes. In somecases, one or more antennas or antenna components (e.g., a ground plane)are formed on a structure or feature not itself part of a window lite.For example, an antenna or antenna component may be disposed on an IGUspacer, a window controller, a network controller, a master controller,an electrical connector such as connector between a window controllerand an electrochromic device, a window frame element, a transom, amullion, etc.

The following terms are used throughout the specification to presentaspects of window antennas.

Antenna Components

An antenna has an associated transmitter and/or receiver, sometimescombined in a “transceiver,” for providing electrical signals to orreceiving them from the antenna. The transmitter and receiver aretypically implemented as circuits on circuit board or integratedcircuit. In some embodiments, the transmitter and/or receiver isdeployed in a window controller or other control element of an opticallyswitchable window network.

An antenna has at least two antenna electrodes, at least one of which isreferred to herein as an antenna structure, which can serve either orboth of two roles: transmission (it receives electrical signals from atransmission circuit and radiates electromagnetic signals intosurrounding space), and reception (it receives electromagnetic signalsfrom surrounding space and forwards an electrical representation of thesignals to a reception circuit).

The second electrode is either grounded or powered. In antennas whereboth electrodes are powered, they may receive complementary signals.This is often the case in a dipole antenna. When the second electrode isgrounded it may be implemented as a ground plane.

A ground plane is typically located near the antenna structure electrodeand blocks the antenna structure from transmitting radiation beyond thelocation of the ground plane and/or blocks the antenna structure fromreceiving radiation coming toward the antenna structure from thedirection of the ground plane. Of course, the antenna structure andground plane must not contact one another. In many designs, they areseparated by a dielectric layer such as a window lite or otherinsulating structure that may be solid, liquid, or gas. In someembodiments, they are separated by free space, e.g., the interior of anIGU. In various embodiments, the ground plane is implemented as a layeror partial layer on a lite, such an electrochromic lite or another litethat is part of an IGU with the electrochromic lite. When implemented ona lite, the ground plane may be provided as a layer on the large areaface of the lite or on one or more edges of the lite. In some cases, theground plane is implemented on a non-lite structure associated with theelectrochromic lite or IGU. Examples of such non-window structuresinclude window controllers, IGU spacers, and framing or structuralmembers such as mullions and transoms.

Each electrode is connected to a terminal of the transmitter orreceiver. All connections are made by an interconnect or transmissionline (the terms are used interchangeably herein).

Passive antenna elements are sometimes used in conjunction with aprimary antenna structure and for the purpose of tuning the radiationdistribution emitted by (or received by) the antenna structure. Passiveantenna elements are not electrically connected to the antenna circuit.They are used in some well-known antenna structures as Yagi antennas,which may be disposed on window structures in like manner to activeantenna elements (e.g., antenna structures and ground planes), exceptthat they are not electrically connected to the antenna circuit.

As is now apparent, an IGU can include one or more antennas configuredto broadcast (or more generally transmit) radio frequency (RF) signalsinto an interior environment, such as within a building or room within abuilding. In some implementations, an IGU can include one or moreantennas configured to receive RF signals from an exterior environment,such as from the outdoors or otherwise outside of a building or roomwithin a building. In some implementations, an IGU can include one ormore antennas configured to broadcast RF signals out to an exteriorenvironment, such as outwards from a building or room within a building.In some implementations, an IGU can include one or more antennasconfigured to receive RF signals from an interior environment, such asfrom the inside of a building or room within a building. Additionally,in some implementations, an IGU can include the capabilities ofbroadcasting or receiving RF signals to or from both an interiorenvironment and an exterior environment. Still further, in someimplementations, an IGU can include capabilities for blockingtransmission of RF signals from one side of the IGU though the IGU andout an opposite side of the IGU.

Electrochromic IGUS and Electrochromic Devices

FIGS. 2A-2J show cross-sectional views of example electrochromic windowstructures 202 with integrated antennas capable of transmitting signalsinto, or receiving signals from, an interior environment according tosome implementations. These examples present a small subset of theavailable electrochromic IGU and electrochromic lite structures withinthe scope of this disclosure, so they should not be considered limitingin any way. Each of the example electrochromic window structures 202shown and described with respect to these and the following figures canbe configured as an IGU and will hereinafter be referred to as an IGU202. FIG. 2A more particularly shows an example implementation of an IGU202 that includes a first pane (also referred to herein as a “lite”) 204having a first surface S1 and a second surface S2. In someimplementations, the first surface S1 of the first pane 204 faces anexterior environment, such as an outdoors or outside environment. TheIGU 202 also includes a second pane 206 having a first surface S3 and asecond surface S4. In some implementations, the second surface S4 of thesecond pane 206 faces an interior environment, such as an insideenvironment of a home, building or vehicle, or a room or compartmentwithin a home, building or vehicle.

In some implementations, each of the first and the second panes 204 and206 are transparent or translucent at least to light in the visiblespectrum. For example, each of the panes 204 and 206 can be formed of aglass material and especially an architectural glass or othershatter-resistant glass material such as, for example, a silicon oxide(SO_(x))-based glass material. As a more specific example, each of thefirst and the second panes 204 and 206 can be a soda-lime glasssubstrate or float glass substrate. Such glass substrates can becomposed of, for example, approximately 75% silica (SiO₂) as well asNa₂O, CaO, and several minor additives. However, each of the first andthe second panes 204 and 206 can be formed of any material havingsuitable optical, electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties. Forexample, other suitable substrates that can be used as one or both ofthe first and the second panes 204 and 206 can include other glassmaterials as well as plastic, semi-plastic and thermoplastic materials(for example, poly(methyl methacrylate), polystyrene, polycarbonate,allyl diglycol carbonate, SAN (styrene acrylonitrile copolymer),poly(4-methyl-1-pentene), polyester, polyamide), or mirror materials. Insome implementations, each of the first and the second panes 204 and 206can be strengthened, for example, by tempering, heating, or chemicallystrengthening.

Generally, each of the first and the second panes 204 and 206, and theIGU 202 as a whole, is a rectangular solid. However, in some otherimplementations other shapes (for example, circular, elliptical,triangular, curvilinear, convex, concave) are possible and may bedesired. In some specific implementations, a length “L” of each of thefirst and the second panes 204 and 206 can be in the range ofapproximately 20 inches (in.) to approximately 10 feet (ft.), a width“W” of each of the first and the second panes 204 and 206 can be in therange of approximately 20 in. to approximately 10 ft., and a thickness“T” of each of the first and the second panes 204 and 206 can be in therange of approximately 1 millimeter (mm) to approximately 10 mm(although other lengths, widths or thicknesses, both smaller and larger,are possible and may be desirable based on the needs of a particularuser, manager, administrator, builder, architect or owner).Additionally, while the IGU 202 includes two panes (204 and 206), insome other implementations, an IGU can include three or more panes.Furthermore, in some implementations, one or more of the panes canitself be a laminate structure of two, three, or more layers orsub-panes.

The first and second panes 204 and 206 are spaced apart from one anotherby spacers 218 to form an interior volume 208. In some implementations,the interior volume is filled with Argon (Ar), although in some otherimplementations, the interior volume 208 can be filled with another gas,such as another noble gas (for example, krypton (Kr) or xenon (Xn)),another (non-noble) gas, or a mixture of gases (for example, air).Filling the interior volume 208 with a gas such as Ar, Kr, or Xn canreduce conductive heat transfer through the IGU 202 because of the lowthermal conductivity of these gases as well as improve acousticinsulation due to their increased atomic weights. In some otherimplementations, the interior volume 208 can be evacuated of air orother gas. The spacers 218 generally determine the thickness of theinterior volume 208; that is, the spacing between the first and thesecond panes 204 and 206. In some implementations, the spacing “C”between the first and the second panes 204 and 206 is in the range ofapproximately 6 mm to approximately 30 mm. The width “D” of the spacers218 can be in the range of approximately 5 mm to approximately 15 mm(although other widths are possible and may be desirable).

Although not shown in the cross-sectional view, the spacers 218 can beformed around all sides of the IGU 202 (for example, top, bottom, leftand right sides of the IGU 202). For example, the spacers 218 can beformed of a foam or plastic material. However, in some otherimplementations, such as the example IGU shown in FIG. 5B, the spacerscan be formed of metal or other conductive material, for example, ametal tube structure. A first primary seal 220 adheres and hermeticallyseals each of the spacers 218 and the second surface S2 of the firstpane 204. A second primary seal 222 adheres and hermetically seals eachof the spacers 218 and the first surface S3 of the second pane 206. Insome implementations, each of the primary seals 220 and 222 can beformed of an adhesive sealant such as, for example, polyisobutylene(PIB). In some implementations, the IGU 202 further includes secondaryseal 224 that hermetically seals a border around the entire IGU 204outside of the spacers 218. To this end, the spacers 218 can be insetfrom the edges of the first and the second panes 204 and 206 by adistance “E.” The distance “E” can be in the range of approximately 4 mmto approximately 8 mm (although other distances are possible and may bedesirable). In some implementations, the secondary seal 224 can beformed of an adhesive sealant such as, for example, a polymeric materialthat resists water and that adds structural support to the assembly.

In the implementation shown in FIG. 2A, an electrochromic (EC) device(ECD) 210 is formed on the second surface S2 of the first pane 204. Aswill be described below, in some other implementations, the ECD 210 canbe formed on another suitable surface, for example, the first surface S1of the first pane, the first surface S3 of the second pane 206 or thesecond surface S4 of the second pane 206. Examples of electrochromicdevices are presented in, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 8,243,357, filed May 11,2011, U.S. Pat. No. 8,764,951, filed Jun. 11, 2010, and U.S. Pat. No.9,007,674, filed Feb. 8, 2013, each incorporated herein by reference inits entirety. In FIG. 2A, the ECD 210 includes an EC stack 212, whichitself includes a number of layers. For example, the EC stack 212 caninclude an electrochromic layer, an ion-conducting layer, and a counterelectrode layer. In some implementations, the electrochromic layer isformed of an inorganic solid material. The electrochromic layer caninclude or be formed of one or more of a number of electrochromicmaterials, including electrochemically-cathodic orelectrochemically-anodic materials. For example, metal oxides suitablefor use as the electrochromic layer can include tungsten oxide (WO₃),molybdenum oxide (MoO₃), niobium oxide (Nb₂O₅), titanium oxide (TiO₂),copper oxide (CuO), iridium oxide (Ir₂O₃), chromium oxide (Cr₂O₃),manganese oxide (Mn₂O₃), vanadium oxide (V₂O₅), nickel oxide (Ni₂O₃) andcobalt oxide (Co₂O₃), among other materials. In some implementations,the electrochromic layer can have a thickness in the range ofapproximately 0.05 μm to approximately 1 μm.

In some implementations, the counter electrode layer is formed of aninorganic solid material. The counter electrode layer can generallyinclude one or more of a number of materials or material layers that canserve as a reservoir of ions when the EC device 210 is in, for example,the transparent state. For example, suitable materials for the counterelectrode layer can include nickel oxide (NiO), nickel tungsten oxide(NiWO), nickel vanadium oxide, nickel chromium oxide, nickel aluminumoxide, nickel manganese oxide, nickel magnesium oxide, chromium oxide(Cr₂O₃), manganese oxide (MnO₂), and Prussian blue. In someimplementations, the counter electrode layer is a second electrochromiclayer of opposite polarity as first electrochromic layer describedabove. For example, when the first electrochromic layer is formed froman electrochemically-cathodic material, the counter electrode layer canbe formed of an electrochemically-anodic material. In someimplementations, the counter electrode layer can have a thickness in therange of approximately 0.05 μm to approximately 1 μm.

In some implementations, the ion-conducting layer serves as a mediumthrough which ions are transported (for example, in the manner of anelectrolyte) when the EC stack 212 transitions between optical states.In some implementations, the ion-conducting layer is highly conductiveto the relevant ions for the electrochromic and the counter electrodelayers, but also has sufficiently low electron conductivity such thatnegligible electron transfer occurs during normal operation. A thinion-conducting layer with high ionic conductivity enables fast ionconduction and consequently fast switching for high performance ECdevices 210. In some implementations, the ion-conducting layer can havea thickness in the range of approximately 0.01 μm to approximately 1 μm.In some implementations, the ion-conducting layer also is an inorganicsolid. For example, the ion-conducting layer can be formed from one ormore silicates, silicon oxides (including silicon-aluminum-oxide),tungsten oxides (including lithium tungstate), tantalum oxides, niobiumoxides and borates. These materials also can be doped with differentdopants, including lithium; for example, lithium-doped silicon oxidesinclude lithium silicon-aluminum-oxide.

In some other implementations, the electrochromic layer and the counterelectrode layer are formed immediately adjacent one another, sometimesin direct contact, without an ion-conducting layer in between. Forexample, in some implementations, an interfacial region between theelectrochromic layer and the counter electrode layer can be utilizedrather than incorporating a distinct ion-conducting layer. A furtherdescription of suitable devices is found in U.S. Pat. No. 8,300,298,issued Oct. 30, 2012 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/462,725,filed May 2, 2012, each incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety. In some implementations, the EC stack 212 also can include oneor more additional layers such as one or more passive layers. Forexample, passive layers can be used to improve certain opticalproperties, to provide moisture or to provide scratch resistance. Insome implementations, the first and the second TCO layers 214 and 216can be treated with anti-reflective or protective oxide or nitridelayers. Additionally, other passive layers also can serve tohermetically seal the EC stack 212.

In some implementations, the choice of appropriate electrochromic andcounter-electrode materials governs the relevant optical transitions.During operation, in response to a voltage generated across thethickness of electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer transfers orexchanges ions to or from the counter-electrode layer resulting in thedesired optical transitions in the electrochromic layer, and in someimplementations, also resulting in an optical transition in thecounter-electrode layer. In one more specific example, responsive to theapplication of an appropriate electric potential across a thickness ofEC stack 212, the counter electrode layer transfers all or a portion ofthe ions it holds to the electrochromic layer causing the opticaltransition in the electrochromic layer. In some such implementations,for example, when the counter electrode layer is formed from NiWO, thecounter electrode layer also optically transitions with the loss of ionsit has transferred to the electrochromic layer. When charge is removedfrom a counter electrode layer made of NiWO (that is, ions aretransported from the counter electrode layer to the electrochromiclayer), the counter electrode layer will transition in the oppositedirection.

Also to be appreciated is that transitions between a bleached ortransparent state and a colored or opaque state are but some examples,among many, of optical or electrochromic transitions that can beimplemented. Such transitions include changes in reflectivity,polarization state, scattering density, and the like. Unless otherwisespecified herein (including the foregoing discussion), wheneverreference is made to a bleached-to-opaque transition (or to and fromintermediate states in between), the corresponding device or processdescribed encompasses other optical state transitions such as, forexample, intermediate state transitions such as percent transmission (%T) to % T transitions, non-reflective to reflective transitions (or toand from intermediate states in between), bleached to coloredtransitions (or to and from intermediate states in between), and colorto color transitions (or to and from intermediate states in between).Additionally, the term “bleached” may refer to an optically neutralstate, for example, uncolored, transparent or translucent. Furthermore,unless specified otherwise herein, the “color” of an electrochromictransition is not limited to any particular wavelength or range ofwavelengths.

Generally, the colorization or other optical transition of theelectrochromic material in the electrochromic layer is caused byreversible ion insertion into the material (for example, intercalation)and a corresponding injection of charge-balancing electrons. Typically,some fraction of the ions responsible for the optical transition isirreversibly bound up in the electrochromic material. Some or all of theirreversibly bound ions can be used to compensate for “blind charge” inthe material. In some implementations, suitable ions include lithiumions (Li+) and hydrogen ions (H+) (i.e., protons). In some otherimplementations, other ions can be suitable. Intercalation of lithiumions, for example, into tungsten oxide (WO_(3-y) (0<y≤˜0.3)) causes thetungsten oxide to change from a transparent state to a blue state.

In some implementations, the EC stack 212 reversibly cycles between atransparent state and an opaque or tinted state. In someimplementations, when the EC stack 212 is in a transparent state, apotential is applied across the EC stack 212 such that available ions inthe stack reside primarily in the counter electrode layer. When themagnitude of the potential across the EC stack 212 is reduced or whenthe polarity of the potential is reversed, ions are transported backacross the ion conducting layer to the electrochromic layer causing theelectrochromic material to transition to an opaque, tinted, or darkerstate. In some implementations, the electrochromic and counter electrodelayers are complementary coloring layers. As one example of acomplementary implementation, when or after ions are transferred intothe counter electrode layer, the counter electrode layer is lightened ortransparent, and similarly, when or after the ions are transferred outof the electrochromic layer, the electrochromic layer is lightened ortransparent. Conversely, when the polarity is switched, or the potentialis reduced, and the ions are transferred from the counter electrodelayer into the electrochromic layer, both the counter electrode and theelectrochromic layers become darken or become colored.

In some other implementations, when the EC stack 212 is in an opaquestate, a potential is applied to the EC stack 212 such that availableions in the stack reside primarily in the counter electrode layer. Insuch implementations, when the magnitude of the potential across the ECstack 212 is reduced or its polarity reversed, the ions are transportedback across the ion conducting layer to the electrochromic layer causingthe electrochromic material to transition to a transparent or lighterstate. The electrochromic and ion-conducting layers also can becomplementary coloring layers.

The ECD 210 also includes a first transparent conductive oxide (TCO)layer 214 adjacent a first surface of the EC stack 212 and a second TCOlayer 216 adjacent a second surface of the EC stack 212. For example,the first TCO layer 214 can be formed on the second surface S2, the ECstack 212 can be formed on the first TCO layer 214 and the second TCOlayer 216 can be formed on the EC stack 212. In some implementations,the first and the second TCO layers 214 and 216 can be formed of one ormore metal oxides and metal oxides doped with one or more metals. Forexample, some suitable metal oxides and doped metal oxides can includeindium oxide, indium tin oxide (ITO), doped indium oxide, tin oxide,doped tin oxide, fluorinated tin oxide, zinc oxide, aluminum zinc oxide,doped zinc oxide, ruthenium oxide and doped ruthenium oxide, amongothers. While such materials are referred to as TCOs in this document,the term encompasses non-oxides as well as oxides that are transparentand electrically conductive such as certain thin metals and certainnon-metallic materials such as conductive metal nitrides and compositeconductors, among other suitable materials. In some implementations, thefirst and the second TCO layers 214 and 216 are substantiallytransparent at least in the range of wavelengths where electrochromismis exhibited by the EC stack 212. In some implementations, the first andthe second TCO layers 214 and 216 can each be deposited by physicalvapor deposition (PVD) processes including, for example, sputtering. Insome implementations, the first and the second TCO layers 214 and 216can each have a thickness in the range of approximately 0.01 microns(μall) to approximately 1 μm. A transparent conductive materialtypically has an electronic conductivity significantly greater than thatof the electrochromic material or the counter electrode material.

The first and the second TCO layers 214 and 216 serve to distributeelectrical charge across respective first and second surfaces of the ECstack 212 for applying an electrical potential (voltage) across thethickness of the EC stack 212 to modify one or more optical properties(for example, a transmittance, absorbance, or reflectance) of the ECstack 212 or layers within the EC stack 212. Desirably, the first andthe second TCO layers 214 and 216 serve to uniformly distributeelectrical charge from outer surface regions of the EC stack 212 toinner surface regions of the EC stack 212 with relatively little Ohmicpotential drop from the outer regions to the inner regions. As such, itis generally desirable to minimize the sheet resistance of the first andthe second TCO layers 214 and 216. In other words, it is generallydesirable that each of the first and the second TCO layers 214 and 216behave as substantially equipotential layers across all portions of therespective layers 214 and 216. In this way, the first and the second TCOlayers 214 and 216 can uniformly apply an electric potential across athickness of the EC stack 212 to effect a transition of the EC stack 212from a bleached or lighter state (for example, a transparent,semitransparent, or translucent state) to a colored or darker state (forexample, a tinted, less transparent or less translucent state) and viceversa.

A first bus bar 226 distributes a first electrical (for example, avoltage) signal to the first TCO layer 214. A second bus bar 228distributes a second electrical (for example, a voltage) signal to thefirst TCO layer 214. In some other implementations, one of the first andthe second bus bars 226 and 228 can ground the respective one of thefirst and the second TCO layers 214 and 216. In the illustratedimplementation, each of the first and the second bus bars 226 and 228 isprinted, patterned, or otherwise formed such that it is oriented along arespective length of the first pane 204 along a border of the EC stack212. In some implementations, each of the first and the second bus bars226 and 228 is formed by depositing a conductive ink, for example, asilver ink, in the form of a line. In some implementations, each of thefirst and the second bus bars 226 and 228 extends along the entirelength (or nearly the entire length) of the first pane 204.

In the illustrated implementation, the first TCO layer 214, the EC stack212 and the second TCO layer 216 do not extend to the absolute edges ofthe first pane 204. For example, in some implementations, a laser edgedelete (LED) or other operation can be used to remove portions of thefirst TCO layer 214, the EC stack 212 and the second TCO layer 216 suchthat these layers are separated or inset from the respective edges ofthe first pane 204 by a distance “G,” which can be in the range ofapproximately 8 mm to approximately 10 mm (although other distances arepossible and may be desirable). Additionally, in some implementations,an edge portion of the EC stack 212 and the second TCO layer 216 alongone side of the first pane 2014 is removed to enable the first bus bar226 to be formed on the first TCO layer 214 to enable conductivecoupling between the first bus bar 226 and the first TCO layer 214. Thesecond bus bar 228 is formed on the second TCO layer 216 to enableconductive coupling between the second bus bar 228 and the second TCOlayer 216. In some implementations, the first and the second bus bars226 and 228 are formed in a region between the respective spacers 218and the first pane 204 as shown in FIG. 2A. For example, each of thefirst and the second bus bars 226 and 228 can be inset from an inneredge of the respective spacer 218 by at least a distance “F,” which canbe in the range of approximately 2 mm to approximately 3 mm (althoughother distances are possible and may be desirable). One reason for thisarrangement is to hide the bus bars from view. A further description ofbus bar positioning and LED is found in U.S. Patent Application No.61/923,171, filed Jan. 2, 2014, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

Example Strip Line Antennas on IGUS and Lites

In the implementation shown in FIG. 2A, first and second antennastructures 230 and 232 are formed within the inset region defined by thedistance G. In some implementations, each of the first and the secondantenna structures 230 and 232 is configured as a strip line antenna. Insome implementations, each of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 is formed by depositing a conductive ink, forexample, a silver ink, in the form of a line. In some otherimplementations, each of the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232 can be formed by applying or adhering a conductive (for example,copper) foil or using suitable PVD or other deposition processes. Insome other implementations, each of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 is formed by patterning the first TCO layer 214to electrically isolate conductive strip lines. In some implementations,each of the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 extendsalong a portion of the length of the first pane 204. The length of eachof the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 is generallydictated by the wavelength of the respective signal the antennastructure is designed to transmit or receive. For example, the length ofeach of the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 can beequal to an integer number of quarter-wavelengths of the relevantsignal. In some implementations, each of the first and the secondantenna structures 230 and 232 has a width suitable for carrying signalsof the desired frequencies, and a thickness suitable for carryingsignals of the desired frequencies. In some implementations, the widthand thickness of each of the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232 may correspond to an integer multiple of a wavelength (orfraction thereof) of a signal to be carried by the antenna structure. Inembodiments where the antenna structure occupies at least a portion ofthe visible region of a window lite, the lines defining the antennastructure may made sufficiently thin that they are not substantiallyvisible to individuals looking through the IGU. The examples in FIGS.2A-J, 3A-J, 4A-B, and 5A-B present a small subset of the availablewindow antenna designs within the scope of this disclosure, so theyshould not be considered limiting in any way.

In some implementations, each of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 can be individually-addressable or independentlydriven, as for example when each antenna is a monopole antenna. Forexample, each of the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232can be electrically connected via a conductive bus, line, orinterconnect (hereinafter used interchangeably where appropriate) to thecorresponding window controller or to another controller or device fortransmitting signals to the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232 or for receiving signals from the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232. Additionally, in some implementations, each ofthe first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 can have adifferent set of parameters than the other (for example, a differentlength, width or thickness depending on the relevant signal or signalsto be transmitted or received). In some other implementations, the IGU202 can include only one of the antenna structures 230 and 232 or morethan the two antenna structures 230 and 232. In some implementations,one of the antennas is set to receive signals and the other is set totransmit signals. In some implementations, the two antenna structuresare driven in a complementary controlled fashion as when they are partof a dipole antenna.

In some embodiments, a ground plane and/or antenna structure isfabricated on the same surface as the electrochromic device. In oneexample, a combined ground plane and electrochromic device stackincludes a flat continuous ground plane next to the glass substrate, aninsulating layer next to that ground plane, the first transparentconductive layer of the electrochromic stack on top of the insulator,and the remainder of the electrochromic device on top of thattransparent conductive layer. The electrochromic device stack may befabricated per conventional fabrication procedures. In this approach,the lower ground plane could be the TEC (a fluorinated tin oxide) layerapplied by certain glass manufacturers, or it could be applied by theelectrochromic device manufacturer, or it could be a combination of thetwo. For example, existing TEC could be modified by the glassmanufacturer to be thicker or to include a combination of the TEC fromthe manufacturer with a thin additional layer of transparent conductorplaced on top of the TEC.

In some implementations, the IGU 202 of FIG. 2A further includes aground plane 234 on the first surface S1 of the first pane 204. Theground plane 234 can function to make the antenna structures 230 and 232directional. For example, as described above, FIGS. 2A-2J showcross-sectional views of example IGUs 202 with integrated antennascapable of transmitting signals into, or receiving signals from, aninterior environment according to some implementations. As such, byforming or otherwise including a ground plane 234 between the first andthe second antenna structures 230 and 232 and the exterior environment,each of the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 can beso as to be directional with respect to the interior environment; thatis, capable of transmitting signals into, or receiving signals from,only the interior environment. If such directionality is not needed oris not desired, the ground plane 234 is not included. In someimplementations, the ground plane 234 can extend across substantiallyall of the surface S1 as shown. In some other implementations, theground plane 234 can extend only along and across regions of the surfaceS1 in proximity to the respective first and second antenna structures230 and 232. In some implementations, the ground plane 234 can be formedof a conductive material such as any of those described above, includingthin film metals or metallic alloys as well as conductive oxides.Typically when the ground plane is in the viewable window area of anIGU, the ground plane has an optical transmissivity that does notsignificantly reduce an occupant's ability to see through the windowwhen in a clear state.

FIG. 2B shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2B is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the first TCO layer214. To electrically insulate the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 from the first TCO layer 214, a dielectric orother insulating material layer 236 is provided on the first TCO layer214 under the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232. Insome embodiments, only one of the two antennas is provided on first TCOlayer 214. For example, antenna structure 232 may be provided directlyon substrate 204.

FIG. 2C shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2C is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the second TCOlayer 216. To electrically insulate the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 from the second TCO layer 216, a dielectric orother insulating material layer 236 is provided on the second TCO layer216 under the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232. Insome embodiments, only one of the two antennas is provided on second TCOlayer 216. For example, antenna structure 230 may be provided directlyon substrate 204 or on first TCO layer 214 (but separated therefrom byinsulating layer 236).

FIG. 2D shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2D is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed by patterning the second TCO layer 216. Forexample, one or more laser scribing, laser ablating or etching processescan be used to pattern the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232 and to electrically insulate the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 from the surrounding portions of the second TCOlayer 216. In the depicted embodiment, antenna structure 230 includestwo strip lines.

FIG. 2E shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2E is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2C except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on a ground plane 234, which is, in turn, formedon the second TCO layer 216. To electrically insulate the ground plane234 from the second TCO layer 216, a dielectric or other insulatingmaterial layer 238 is provided on the second TCO layer 216 and under theground plane 234. Insulating strips 236 isolate antenna structures 230and 232 from ground plane 234.

FIG. 2F shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2F is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2E except for atleast the difference that the ground plane 234 is formed between thesecond surface S2 of the first pane 204 and the EC device 210. Toelectrically insulate the ground plane 234 from the first TCO layer 214,a dielectric or other insulating material layer 238 is first formed onthe ground plane 234 before the formation of the first TCO layer 214. Inthe depicted embodiments, antenna structures 230 and 232, along withinsulating strips 236, reside on second TCO 216. In other embodiments,one or both of the antenna structures reside on first TCO 214.

FIG. 2G shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2G is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the first surfaceS3 of the second pane 206. In some cases, the antenna structures areformed by printing conductive materials such as silver ink. In someimplementations, the IGU 202 of FIG. 2G further includes a ground plane234 disposed over the first and the second antenna structures 230 and234. To electrically insulate the ground plane 234 from the first andthe second antenna structures 230 and 232, a dielectric or otherinsulating material layer 236 is first formed over the first and thesecond antenna structures 230 and 232 before the formation of the groundplane 234. In some other implementations, the ground plane 234 can bedisposed on the first surface S1 of the first pane 204 or on the secondsurface S2 of the first pane 204 under or over the EC device 210.

FIG. 2H shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2H is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2G except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are patterned from a conductive oxide layer (for example,such as the same material as the first and second TCO layers 214 and216).

FIG. 2I shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2I is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2G except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the first surfaceS1 of the first pane 204. In some cases, the antenna structures areconductive strips such as silver ink strips. In some implementations,the IGU 202 of FIG. 2I further includes a ground plane 234 formed overthe first and the second antenna structures 230 and 234. To electricallyinsulate the ground plane 234 from the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232, a dielectric or other insulating material layer236 is first formed over the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232 before the formation of the ground plane 234.

FIG. 2J shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2J is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2I except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are patterned from a conductive oxide layer (for example,such as the same material as the first and second TCO layers 214 and216).

FIGS. 3A-3J show cross-sectional views of example IGUs 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.Many of the features shown and described with reference to FIGS. 2A-2Jare applicable to the embodiments of FIGS. 3A-3J but with the relativepositions of the ground plane and antenna structures reversed. The IGU202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3A is similar to the IGU202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 2A except for at leastthe difference that the ground plane 234 is formed on the first surfaceS3 of the second pane 206. In some other implementations, the groundplane 234 can be formed on the second surface S4 of the second plane206.

FIG. 3B shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3B is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the first TCO layer214. To electrically insulate the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 from the first TCO layer 214, a dielectric orother insulating material layer 236 is first formed on the first TCOlayer 214 before the formation of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232.

FIG. 3C shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3C is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the second TCOlayer 216. To electrically insulate the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 from the second TCO layer 216, a dielectric orother insulating material layer 236 is first formed on the second TCOlayer 216 before the formation of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232.

FIG. 3D shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3D is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed by patterning the second TCO layer 216. Forexample, laser scribing or etching processes can be used to pattern thefirst and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 and to electricallyinsulate the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 fromthe surrounding portions of the second TCO layer 216.

FIG. 3E shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3E is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3C except for atleast the difference that the ground plane is formed over the first andthe second antenna structures 230 and 232. To electrically insulate theground plane 234 from the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232, a dielectric or other insulating material layer 238 is firstformed on the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 beforethe formation of the ground plane 234.

FIG. 3F shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3F is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3E except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232, the insulating layer 236 and the ground plane 234 areformed on the second surface S2 of the first pane 204 under and beforethe formation of the EC device 210.

FIG. 3G shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3G is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3A except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the first surfaceS3 of the second pane 206. In some implementations, the IGU 202 of FIG.3G further includes a ground plane 234 formed between the first and thesecond antenna structures 230 and 234 and the surface S3. Toelectrically insulate the ground plane 234 from the first and the secondantenna structures 230 and 232, a dielectric or other insulatingmaterial layer 236 is first formed over the ground plane 234 before theformation of the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232. Insome other implementations, the ground plane 234 can be formed on thesecond surface S4 of the second pane 206.

FIG. 3H shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3H is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3G except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are patterned from a conductive oxide layer (for example,such as the same material as the first and second TCO layers 214 and216).

FIG. 3I shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals out to, or receivingsignals from, an exterior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3I is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3G except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are formed on respective edge regions of the first surfaceS1 of the first pane 204. In some implementations, the IGU 202 of FIG.2I further includes a ground plane 234 formed over the surface S1 underthe first and the second antenna structures 230 and 234. To electricallyinsulate the ground plane 234 from the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232, a dielectric or other insulating material layer236 is first formed over ground plane 234 before the formation of thefirst and the second antenna structures 230 and 232.

FIG. 3J shows a cross-sectional view of another example IGU 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting signals into, or receivingsignals from, an interior environment according to some implementations.The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3J is similar tothe IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 3I except for atleast the difference that the first and the second antenna structures230 and 232 are patterned from a conductive oxide layer (for example,such as the same material as the first and second TCO layers 214 and216).

FIGS. 4A and 4B show cross-sectional views of example IGUs 202 withintegrated antennas capable of transmitting and receiving signals to andfrom interior and exterior environments according to someimplementations. In various embodiments having such functionality, atleast one ground plane is disposed between one antenna structure on theinterior side of the ground plane and another antenna structure on theexterior side of the ground plane. The interior facing antenna structureis not blocked by a further ground plane on the interior side of theantenna structure. Similarly, the exterior facing antenna structure isnot blocked by a further ground plane on the exterior side of theantenna structure. In some implementations, multiple ground planes aredisposed between the interior and exterior facing antenna structures.

Certain embodiments pertain to patch antennas having (i) a patch ofconductive material on a window to form the antenna structure, and (ii)a ground plane that may be parallel to or perpendicular to (or any anglebetween) the patch antenna structure. The patch antenna may beconfigured as a monopole antenna similar to the strip line antennasdescribed elsewhere herein. While the strip line is typically relativelythin (in a dimension parallel to the surface on which it is formed), thepatch is relatively wider, e.g., at least about 0.5 inches in itsnarrowest dimension (i.e., a dimension parallel to the surface on whichit is formed). In other embodiments, the patch is at least about 1 inchin its narrowest dimension, or about at least about 2 inches, or atleast about 3 inches. In certain embodiments, the patch antennastructure is a continuous, unpatterned patch of conductive materialhaving a thickness (directly perpendicular to the surface on which it isformed) as appropriate for strip line antenna structures disclosedherein. In some embodiments, a patch antenna structure is patterned;e.g., some fractal antenna structures. Unless otherwise specified, anydiscussion of a strip line antenna structure applies equally to a patchantenna structure.

Ground Plane and Antenna Structure on Same Plane

The embodiments of FIGS. 2A-4B show the ground plane and antennastructure on different layers. This need not be the case. In someimplementations, the ground plane and antenna structure(s) occupydifferent regions of a single layer. For example, a TCO layer may bepatterned and electrically connected so that a grounded portion of theTCO serves as the ground plane and one or more separately connectedlines serve as the antenna structure. Such designs may be appropriatewhen, for example, it is not convenient to provide a flat ground planeon an off-lite structure such as spacer or window frame structure.Depending on the relative sizes, positions, and orientations of theground plane and antenna structure on a layer, the radiation fortransmission or reception is distributed as understood by those of skillin the art. For example, as explained above, radiation transmitted froma window antenna may be directed away from the ground plane. FIG. 9Dpresents an example of fractal patch antenna 995 and a strip groundplane 993 deployed on the same pane of a lite. Other examples employother shapes and sizes of ground plane, including rectangles coveringall or a portion of a side of a lite. Other examples employ otherantenna structures such as other forms of patch antenna, strip lineantennas, etc.

Classes of Antenna Design for Window Antennas

Location of Antenna Structure with Respect to an Electrochromic Device

The various IGU antenna designs typically fall into one or more classes.In one class, the electrochromic device itself is modified to include anantenna or a portion thereof. In such embodiments, the antenna may befabricated in or on a transparent conductor layer of the device such asa transparent conductor layer (e.g., a fluorinated tin oxide or “TEC”layer) disposed adjacent to the glass substrate or an upper transparentconductor layer (e.g., an indium tin oxide or “ITO” layer) provided atthe top of the electrochromic stack opposite the glass surface. In theelectrochromic device, each of the two transparent conductor layers isconnected to its own bus bar which drives the transparent conductivelayers to opposite polarities during switching of the electrochromicdevice. When an antenna is provided in or on one of these layers, theantenna must be electrically isolated from the surrounding portion ofthe conductive layer and an additional electrical connection must beprovided for the antenna transmission line. For example, an antennadesign pattern can effectively be drawn and electrically isolated fromthe surrounding conductive layer by laser scribing or etching. In someembodiments, the bus bar is segmented so that one or more segments powerthe electrochromic device transition and a different segment transmitsor receives electrical signals to/from the antenna.

In another class, an antenna structure is fabricated in a layer of astack that is integral with the electrochromic device, but the layerdoes not directly serve a function associated with tinting or switchingof the electrochromic device. In one example, a separate layer ofconductive material is deposited on the substrate containing theelectrochromic device stack. In some embodiments, the additional layeris deposited on the side of the substrate (glass) where theelectrochromic device stack is fabricated and the formation of thislayer can be integrated in the deposition of the electrochromic devicestack layers. For example, on top of the electrochromic device (on theside away from the glass substrate), the antenna structure may beimplemented as an insulating layer over the upper transparent conductorlayer and a printed pattern or a patterned conductive layer over theinsulating layer, with the pattern defining the antenna structure. Insome embodiments, the separate conductive layer dedicated to the antennastructure is provided with the substrate and need not be separatelydeposited during the fabrication of the electrochromic device.Regardless of how the dedicated antenna structure layer is fabricated,it will include a separate electrical connection for the antennastructure(s) in or on the layer. Separately, the two transparentconductive layers that serve to drive switching of the electrochromicdevice will have standard bus bars or other connections for applyingvoltage of polarities required to drive the optical switching.

In another class, a portion of one of the transparent conductive layersof the electrochromic device stack is stripped off the underlyingsubstrate, and subsequently, the antenna structure is formed on theexposed area (e.g., with CVD, rolling mask lithography or conductive-inkprinting techniques). In certain embodiments, the removed portion of theTCO is located at or near the edge of an electrochromic lite.

In another class, the antenna structure is disposed on an IGU surfaceother than the one having the electrochromic device. Such other surfacemay be a surface opposite the lite surface on which the electrochromicdevice stack resides. In some such embodiments, an electrochromic liteincludes a laminate structure, including the antenna structure, thatincludes additional layers or panes not included in the current ECDdesign. In other embodiments, the antenna structure is formed on asurface of a separate lite of an IGU.

Antennas on Spacers

FIGS. 5A and 5B show cross-sectional views of other example IGUs 202with integrated antennas according to some implementations. In the IGU202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 5A, one or more firstantenna structures 540 are formed on an interior side surface of a firstone of the spacers 218 while one or more second antenna structures 542are formed on an interior side surface of a second one of the spacers218. The first and the second antenna structures 540 and 542 may beadhered to the spacers 218 using adhesive layers 544 and 546,respectively. For example, the first and the second antenna structures542 and 544 can be formed of a conductive foil mounted or otherwisedeposited or formed on a mylar or other adhesive tape. The IGU 202 shownand described with reference to FIG. 5B is similar to the IGU 202 shownand described with reference to FIG. 5A except for at least thedifference that the IGU 202 of FIG. 5B includes metal spacers 548 ratherthan foam or other insulating spacers 218. In such implementations, thespacers 548 themselves may function as ground planes. Alternatively, ifa spacer or portion thereof is appropriated configured (size, shape,location, conductor material), the spacer may be driven as a radiatingantenna electrode.

Window Antenna Designs as Characterized by Electrode Structure andRadiation Properties

Example Monopole Antennas

A monopole antenna has an antenna structure that is a single pole, line,or patch, although it may include other shapes such as the triangularshapes employed in some fractal antennas such as those shown in FIGS. 8Aand B. Often in window implementations, the antenna structure isprovided as a strip line or patch on a window surface (e.g., as a thinline of TCO, copper metal, or silver ink). The second electrode is aground plane oriented perpendicular to the axis of the line forming theantenna structure. The term perpendicular is intended to includeorientations in which the electrodes are exactly 90 degrees apart aswell as orientations where the electrodes are not exactly 90 degreesapart (e.g., they are at about 85 to 90 degrees, or at about 75 to 90degrees, or at about 60 to 90 degrees). The ground plane is disposedbeyond one of the ends of the antenna structure, such that a gas (e.g.,air or gas filling the IGU interior) or other dielectric separates theend of the antenna structure from the ground plane. When the antennastructure is disposed on a window, the ground plane may be provided onan adjacent structure such as a window frame, a building framingcomponent such as a mullion or transom, the spacer of an IGU, or aseparate conductive, substantially-planar structure affixed to thewindow or any of the foregoing elements. A basic structure of a monopoleantenna for application in a window antenna is depicted in FIG. 9A,which includes a lite 950, on which is provided a strip of conductivematerial (antenna structure 952), and a separate ground plane 954,oriented substantially perpendicular to the antenna structure. FIG. 9Dalso depicts a monopole antenna, this time with a fractal patch as theantenna structure, and a coplanar conductive strip as the ground plane.

A monopole antenna transmits (and/or receives) radiation in a singlefrequency or a narrow band of frequencies. The frequency spread ischosen for the application. Typically, the narrower the spread, the moreefficient the antenna uses power. However, some transmission protocolssuch as Wi-Fi employ a spread of frequencies (e.g., 2.40 GHz to 2.49GHz) and it may be desirable for the antenna to transmit or receive overa comparable range. The length of a monopole antenna is determined bythe wavelength of the RF waves it is used with. For example, aquarter-wave monopole has a length approximately ¼ of a wavelength ofthe radio waves.

A monopole antenna typically transmits (and/or receives) radiationomnidirectionally; e.g., approximately 360 degrees around the axis ofthe antenna structure's line. The signal strength may be evenly ornearly evenly distributed around the monopole axis. It radiates (orreceives) little if any signal beyond the ground plane. Further, itradiates (or receives) only limited signal in the direction of themonopole axis, away from the ground plane. When a monopole antennastructure is disposed a flat surface such as a lite, it radiates to theleft and right of the structure, as well as into and out of the plane ofthe lite. This directionally allows monopole designs to be used for manyapplications where omnidirectional azimuthal transmission or receptionis desired.

A monopole antenna implemented on a window is relatively easy tofabricate. It may be implemented by a strip of conductive material onthe plane of a glass window and a ground plane located orthogonal to theaxis of the strip or patch of conductive material on the window. Theground plane can be implemented in many different ways. For example, itcan be part of a conductive framing structure such as an aluminumtransom some or mullion. It could also be a conductive sheet especiallyfabricated to be a ground plane such as a sheet of metal or conductivematerial affixed to a lite and separated from a terminus of the monopoleantenna structure. It may also be such a flat section of conductivematerial formed on or affixed to the window frame or an insulatedglazing unit, or other structure around the periphery of a glass panehaving the monopole structure. In some implementations, the ground planeis disposed on the same lite as the monopole electrode antennastructure. As with other monopole antenna embodiments, the ground planeis offset from an axial terminus of the antenna structure, but in thiscase the ground plane is formed on a flat face of the a lite, either thesurface on which the antenna structure resides (see FIG. 9D) or aparallel surface. In other embodiments, the ground plane is disposed onan edge of a lite. For example, the ground plane may be a conductivestrip such as metal strip disposed on an edge of a lite adjacent aterminus of the monopole electrode structure. In some cases, such groundplane is disposed on two or more edges of the lite, as appropriate toconstrain the antenna's radiation pattern.

Monopole antennas have various applications in the context ofelectrochromic windows. For example, monopole antennas may be employedin broadcasting signal to both the inside or outside the building.Monopole antennas may also receive signals from either the inside oroutside of the building. Omnidirectional monopole antennas may beemployed to produce Bluetooth beacons (IEEE 802.15.1; 2.4-2.485 GHz),Wi-Fi repeaters (IEEE 802.11; mainly 2.4 gigahertz and 5 gigahertz),ZigBee network communications (IEEE 802.15.4; 915 MHz in the US), etc.

A variant monopole antenna has a design similar to that of anomnidirectional monopole antenna design in that the antenna structure ofthe antenna is a single pole, patch, or line. And like theomnidirectional monopole antenna, the monopole antenna has a groundplane, but the ground plane is oriented parallel to the axis of themonopole antenna structure. The term parallel is intended to includeorientations in which the electrodes are exactly 0 degrees apart as wellas orientations where the electrodes are not exactly 0 degrees apart(e.g., they are at about 0 to 5 degrees, or at about 0 to 15 degrees, orat about 0 to 30 degrees). When the antenna structure is disposed on awindow, the ground plane may be provided on the same surface as theantenna structure or on parallel surface such as the opposite surface ofthe window having the antenna structure, or on one of the surfaces of aseparate window of an IGU or other assembly of multiple window panes. Asexamples, the structures shown in FIGS. 2A-4B may be implemented asmonopole antennas with parallel ground planes.

Like an omnidirectional monopole antenna, a monopole antenna with aparallel ground plane transmits (and/or receives) radiation in a singlefrequency or a narrow band of frequencies.

Unlike omnidirectional monopole antennas, monopole antennas withparallel ground planes typically transmit (and/or receive) radiationdirectionally; e.g., about 180 degrees around one side of the axis ofthe antenna structure's line. The signal strength may be evenly ornearly evenly distributed around the 180 degrees. It radiates (orreceives) little if any signal beyond the ground plane. The radiationdistribution may be a lobe, with the strongest signal in a directionopposite the ground plane. In some cases, the radiation distributionforms approximately one-half of cylinder sliced along the length of theantenna structure's axis.

Monopole antennas with parallel ground planes have various applicationsin the context of electrochromic windows. For example, monopole antennaswith parallel ground planes may be employed to produce Bluetooth beacons(IEEE 802.15.1; 2.4-2.485 GHz), Wi-Fi repeaters (IEEE 802.11; mainly 2.4gigahertz and 5 gigahertz), ZigBee network communications (IEEE802.15.4; 915 MHz in the US), etc.

One embodiment of a monopole or patch antenna arrangement with aparallel ground plane constitutes a Planar Inverted-F Antenna (PIFA),where the antenna is fed from an intermediate distance from a groundedend. This design allows the antenna to be shorter and more compact thana standard monopole or PIFA antenna, while allowing for selectiveimpedance matching by choosing the location of the feed (e.g., thelocation of the feed bus bar). FIGS. 7C and 7D illustrate a PIFA antennastructure implemented as a patch antenna 701, and a ground plane 704,which together sandwich a substrate 700 such as a lite. A PIFA antennahas a feed 702, provided by, e.g., a bus bar, which is electricallyconnected to a window controller, and a short 703, also provided by,e.g., a bus bar, which is electrically connected to the ground plane704. The relative structural dimensions depicted in FIGS. 7C and 7D arefor illustrative purposes only and are not representative of preferredembodiments.

Example Dipole Antennas

A dipole antenna includes two electrodes, which are both antennastructures that radiate (or receive) electromagnetic energy. Each suchelectrode is a single pole, patch, or line, like the monopole. And, aswith monopole antennas in window implementations, the dipole electrodesmay be provided as strip lines on a window surface (e.g., as thin linesof TCO, copper metal, or silver ink). Typically, the lines or patches ofthe dipole antenna are parallel. The term parallel is intended toinclude orientations in which the electrodes are exactly 0 degrees apartas well as orientations where the electrodes are not exactly 0 degreesapart (e.g., they are at about 0 to 5 degrees, or at about 0 to 15degrees, or at about 0 to 30 degrees). A dipole antenna may be designedwith or without a ground plane. When present, a ground plane may be athird electrode and may be oriented perpendicular to or parallel to thepoles of the dipole antenna, in a manner similar to the arrangements inomnidirectional and limited-directional monopole antennas. Theindividual dipole electrodes may share a single ground plane. In dipoledesigns, the ground plane may be provided on a conductive framingstructure or other specially designed the structure as described abovefor the monopole antenna.

Dipole antennas typically operate at a single frequency or a narrow bandof frequencies when the electrode lengths are the same or substantiallythe same. In such cases, the wavelength may be about two times thelength of the dipole antenna structure lengths. When the antennastructures have different lengths, the antenna structure radiates (orreceives) radiation of different frequencies, each associated with adifferent pole (electrode).

Dipole antennas operate directionally with maximum radiation strength(or signal reception efficiency) on two lobes substantially parallel tothe two poles of antenna and having relatively high strength on a planelocated between the two poles. Applications of dipole window antennasinclude those for monopole antennas, but in some cases with moredirectionality or where a stronger signal is required such as the lowerfloors of a tall building in a city. Such locations may experiencesevere noise and interference from multiple RF sources.

FIG. 6A shows a top or plan view of an IGU 202 such as that shown anddescribed with reference to FIG. 2A or 2B. In the IGU 202 of FIG. 6A,the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 arecenter-connected as dipole antennas. In some implementations, the IGU202 of FIG. 6A further includes matching circuits 650 and 652 forproviding impedance matching or filtering for the first and the secondantenna structures 230 and 232. For example, each of the matchingcircuits 650 and 652 can include one or more passive circuit elementssuch as one or more inductors, capacitors, resistors and/ortransformers. The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 6Bis similar to the IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 6Aexcept for at least the difference that the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 are electrically connected as monopole antennas.

Referring to FIG. 6B, if the first and the second antenna structures 230and 232 have the same parameters (especially length) and are driven withsignals of the same frequency in-phase, there will be constructiveinterference between them. However, if the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 have the same parameters (especially length) andare driven with signals of the same frequency 180 degrees out-of-phase,the combination of the first and the second antenna structures 230 and232 will function as a folded dipole with each of the first and thesecond antenna structures 230 and 232 functioning as a half-dipole.Additionally, if the parameters of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 are different or if the frequencies or phases ofthe signals applied to each of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 are different, there will be both constructiveand destructive interference, which can be used to adjust thedirectionality of the combination of the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 as a whole. In general, in implementationsincluding multiple antenna design patterns (for, e.g., transmitting atdifferent frequencies), the window is configured such that the multipledesign patterns may be addressed independently by, e.g., a networkcontroller. In some cases, the window and/or controller may beconfigured to dynamically select which antenna to use and which powerand phase to apply. Additionally, in implementations in which a fractalantenna is used, a controller also can be used to adjust a frequencyoperating range of the fractal antenna

In some embodiments, antenna structures 230 and 232 or other antennastructures such as those of FIG. 8B are located proximate edges of oneor more lites in an IGU such that they are obscured by the IGU spacerand are therefore not visible in the viewable region of the lites. Assuch, the antenna structures can have line widths and other dimensionsand optical properties that would make them otherwise visible if theywere not hidden by the spacers. Note that in some embodiments, an IGUspacer is made from a non-conductive material when the spacer obscuresan antenna structure.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show different example antenna structures and patternsaccording to some other implementations. The IGU 202 shown and describedwith reference to FIG. 7A is similar to the IGU 202 shown and describedwith reference to FIG. 6A except for at least the difference that thefirst and the second dipole-connected antenna structures 230 and 232each include multiple dipole-connected antenna structures driven by thesame signals. In the illustrated implementation, each of the antennastructures has a length equal to a different number of integer quarterwavelengths of a relevant signal. In some similar implementations, oneor more antenna structures can be implemented as Yagi or log periodicantennas. The IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 7B issimilar to the IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 7Aexcept for at least the difference that the first and the seconddipole-connected antenna structures 230 and 232 each include an array ofdipole-connected antenna structures driven by the same signals.

A Yagi Antenna includes multiple parallel elements distributed along aline. The parallel elements may be attached to a crossbar. At least onepair of these elements is driven as a dipole pair and connected to theantenna circuit (transmitter or receiver) by a transmission line. SeeFIGS. 7A-B. Among the parallel elements is at least one parasiticelement that is not electrically connected to the transmitter orreceiver, and serves as a resonator reradiating the radio waves tomodify the radiation pattern. Another of the parallel elements is areflector located on one side of the driven elements. Typical spacingsbetween elements vary from about 1/10 to ¼ of a wavelength, depending onthe specific design. The lengths of the directors are slightly shorterthan that of the driven element, while the reflector(s) are slightlylonger.

Yagi antennas have the same frequency characteristics as dipoleantennas. A Yagi antenna has a single frequency or a narrow band offrequencies when the electrode lengths are the same or substantially thesame. In such cases, the wavelength may be about two times the length ofthe dipole antenna structure lengths. When the antenna structures havedifferent lengths, the antenna structure radiates (or receives)radiation of different frequencies, each associated with a differentpole (electrode). The radiation pattern is substantially unidirectionalwith a main lobe along the axis perpendicular to the elements in theplane of the elements. Applications on windows include those where astrong directional component is required. Note that Yagi antennastransmit and receive radiation polarized in the direction of the planeof the antenna structure. In a case where broadcast radiation ispolarized in a horizontal direction, a Yagi antenna disposed on askylight or other horizontally oriented window may be appropriate.

A Log Periodic Antenna has an antenna structure with multiple dipoledriven elements of gradually increasing length. See e.g., FIGS. 7A-B.Each dipole driven element contains a pair of parallel conductive stripsor lines, which may be formed on a window surface. The dipole elementsare disposed close together along a line, connected in parallel to afeed line from the transmitter or receiver. The dipole elements arespaced at intervals following the sigma function of frequency. Thelengths of the lines in the dipole elements correspond to resonance atdifferent frequencies of the antenna's overall bandwidth. Every lineelement of the log periodic antenna is active, that is, electricallyconnected to the feed line. When present, a ground plane may be orientedperpendicular to or parallel to the dipole elements of the log periodicantenna, in a manner similar to the arrangements in monopole antennas.

A log periodic antenna transmits and/or receives a wide band offrequencies determined in part by the lengths of the driven dipoleelements. Log periodic antennas are highly directional, often having anarrow beam radiation pattern. The radiation pattern is nearly constantover the log periodic antenna's frequency range. Applications on windowantennas include those appropriate for other dipole antennas such asYagi antennas.

Example Fractal Antennas

Fractal Antenna has an antenna structure with a fractal shape. Oneexample of a suitable shape is the Sierpinski fractal shape. Otherexamples include Koch curves and Hilbert-Peano curves. See e.g., FIGS.8A-B. Fractal antennas are designed and made various companies includingFractus Corporation of Barcelona, Spain. Often in windowimplementations, it is provided as a fractal design on a window surface(e.g., as a thin pattern of TCO, copper metal, or silver ink). In someimplementations, the second electrode is a ground plane orientedperpendicular to the axis of the line forming the antenna structure asdescribed above for the monopole antenna. In some implementations, theground plane is oriented parallel to the axis of the fractal antennastructure like the monopole antenna with a parallel ground plane. Thewindow area occupied by a fractal antenna can be relatively small; e.g.,on the order of about 4 inches or less on a longest dimension (e.g.,about 20 mm by 30 mm).

A fractal antenna may have a single or multiple frequencies depending onthe fractal structure. A fractal antenna may be designed to have thecharacteristics of a monopole antenna or a group of monopole antennas.Because a fractal antenna may be designed to have the characteristics ofa monopole antenna or a group of monopole antennas, it may have thedirectional characteristics of an omnidirectional monopole antenna ormonopole antenna with parallel ground plane (both described above)depending on where the ground plane is located. A benefit of fractalantennas is that they can efficiently operate at multiple frequencieswhile occupying a relatively small space on a window. As illustrated inFIG. 8A, the repeating structure of a Sierpinski fractal providesmultiple iterations of monopole antennas each with a differentfrequency. In some implementations, the different frequencies canprovide different applications for a window antenna or they can providedifferent operational bands for a single application.

FIG. 8 B illustrates a monopole window antenna having a Sierpinskifractal antenna structure 801 oriented perpendicular to a ground plane802. In certain implementations, the Sierpinski fractal antennastructure 801 is fabricated on a lite surface and the ground plane 802is implemented on a spacer or window frame element such as a mullion ortransom.

FIG. 8C illustrates a Sierpinski fractal antenna structure implementedas a patch antenna (“Fractal patch” in FIG. 8B) and a parallel groundplane, which together sandwich a substrate such as a lite. Exampledimensions are provided in the figure. In general, Sierpinski fractalantennas can be implemented in small dimension patches, e.g., having abase to vertex dimension of about 5 inches or less, or about 2 inches orless.

The IGUs 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 8D and FIG. 8Eare similar to the IGU 202 shown and described with reference to FIG. 6Aexcept for at least the difference that the first and the second antennastructures 230 and 232 are patterned or otherwise formed as fractalantennas. More specifically, in the IGU 202 of FIG. 8D, each of thefirst and the second antenna structures 230 and 232 are patterned as aKoch curve. in the IGU 202 of FIG. 8E, each of the first and the secondantenna structures 230 and 232 are patterned as a Hilbert-Peano curve.In some such implementations (and even in the other implementationsdescribed above), the antenna structures 230 and 232 can advantageouslybe patterned using silver or other conductive material nano-printing,rolling mask photolithography or other techniques. In these and theother implementations, it is generally desirable for the antennastructures to be sufficiently narrow or otherwise transparent so as notto be readily or easily viewable by the human eye. In some otherimplementations, the first and the second antenna structures 230 and 232can be pattered to form other types of antennas including Greek keyantennas.

Multiple Antennas on a Single Window, IGU, or Window and AssociatedStructure (Such as Frame, Mullion, Transom, Etc.)

In certain embodiments, a window and/or window associated componentscontain multiple antennas. Given the small size and inobtrusiveconfiguration of many antenna structures, multiple antennas can beprovided on a single window (lite) and/or associated window components.Fractal antennas, for example, can be roughly 2 inches per dimension. Inaddition to the lite or lites of a window assembly, antennas may bedisposed on one or more window and/or antenna controllers, IGU spacers,window frames (including mullions and transoms), etc. In some cases, anantenna is provided on a circuit board of the window controller. In somecases, an antenna is provided on an adhesive strip that is used toprovide a conductor connecting two or more elements such as anelectrochromic window, an antenna structure, a ground plane, and acontroller. Examples of such adhesive strips are provided in FIGS. 11D,11G and 11H. As apparent, certain designs employ two or more antennas,each having its own radiation pattern. In such embodiments, the designmay address the possibility of interference and/or null regions.

FIG. 9B presents an example in which a lite 909, which like many of thelites described herein can be an electrochromic lite, contains a fractalantenna 913 and a generic patch antenna 915, each separately controlled,but sharing a single ground plane 911. In certain embodiments, the twoantennas employ different ground planes. In some implementations, thetwo antennas are driven in a complementary fashion to serve as a dipoleantenna. In other implementations, the antennas do not work together,but provide separate applications such as providing a bluetooth beaconand providing Wi-Fi services. In the depicted configuration, groundplane 911 is substantially perpendicular to lite 909 and the associatedantennas 913 and 915.

FIG. 9C presents an example in which a lite 970 has three Sierpinskifractal antennas 980, 982, and 984 disposed on the lite's surface. Whilenot shown, one or more associated ground planes may be provided on aparallel surface of lite 970 or a parallel lite which may part of an IGUwith lite 970. A controller 975 may be disposed on or proximate lite970. In one example, controller 975 is implemented using awindow-attached carrier as discussed in connections with FIGS. 11A-F. Inthe depicted example, a communications interface 974 is provided withincontroller 975. Interface 974 may provide communications between theantennas of lite 970 and a master controller or other source ofinstructions for operating the antennas. In some implementations,interface 974 is configured to interface with a CAN bus. Of course,other communications protocols may be used. Controller 975 also includeslogic for controlling the antennas. Such logic may serve areception/transmission logic for the individual antennas. As shown, alogic block 978 controls antenna 984 and a logic block 976 controlsantennas 980 and 982. In some implementations, antennas 980 and 982operate together as a dipole antenna.

Interconnects for Connecting Antenna Components to Transmitter/ReceiverLogic

As explained, the antenna structure may be implemented as, e.g., a lineof conductive material such as a line of a transparent conductive oxideon the plane of a window surface, but separated from the ground plane bya dielectric. As described, at least the antenna structure must each beelectrically coupled to transmitter and/or receiver logic, which may beimplemented in an antenna controller. Additionally, the ground plane, ifpresent, must be connected to ground. Various types of electricalconnection (or “interconnect”) may be used for these purposes, with thetypes varying depending on the portion of a window where the antennacomponents and the controller reside.

Interconnect Around the Edge of One or More Lites

In antenna designs where the antenna electrodes are located on differentsurfaces (e.g., they are not both located on the same surface of thelite), an electrical connection may be required that passes between oraround portions of a window or IGU. For example, an electricalconnection may be required between IGU surfaces S4 and S3, betweensurfaces S4 and S2, between surfaces S4 and S1, between surfaces S3 andS2, between surfaces S3 and S1, between surfaces S2 and S1, between aspacer surface and any the IGU lite surfaces, or between a window frameelement (including a mullion or transom) and any of the lite surfaces.The electrical connection may take the form of a wire, cable, tape,conductive block, etc. routed as appropriate to make the necessaryconnection(s). In some cases, the interconnect passes through theinterior or under an IGU spacer. In some cases, the interconnectconforms to the shape/surface of the edge of a lite, spacer, or othersurface between the antenna electrodes requiring a connection. A fewexamples are presented below. Any of these examples can be extended toemploy other types of interconnects described herein.

In various embodiments, two interconnects emanate from a connector on anIGU or other associated window structure. The connector connects to anantenna controller (receiver and/or transmitter logic) located elsewhereon the IGU or at a remote location. FIGS. 10A-F present examples of aconnector located on or near a window or IGU and separate electricalconnections running to a ground plane and an antenna structure.

FIG. 10A shows a cross-section of a lite 1001, in which a cable 1003,such as a shielded coaxial cable, attaches to an edge of the lite. Cable1003 is in electrical communication with an antenna receiver and/ortransmitter (not shown). Grounded shielding 1005 of cable 1003 connectsa ground plane 1007 on lite 1001, and a center conductor 1009 of cable1003 connects to a strip line or patch antenna 1011 on lite 1001. Groundplane 1007 and antenna structure 1011 are on opposite faces of lite1001. In this embodiment, cable 1003 retains its integrity (the groundedshielding 1005 surrounds central conductor 1009) from the antennatransmitter/receiver until it reaches the lite 1001, where the shielding1005 is separated from the conductor 1009 to reach the separatelocations of the ground plane 1007 and the antenna structure 1011. Inthe depicted embodiment, cable 1003 attaches to an edge of lite 1001,and, from there, splits into the ground and signal/power connectors. Inalternative embodiments, the cable 1003 attaches to a face of lite 1001or other location proximate the ground plane and antenna structure.

FIG. 10B shows a related embodiment, in which cable 1003 attaches to aface of lite 1001, rather than an edge. In this example, lite 1001 formspart of an insulated glass unit that includes a parallel lite 1013 and aspacer 1015. The antenna structure 1011 is located just outside an outeredge of spacer 1015. If spacer 1015 is not conductive or e.g. coatedwith a non-conductive material, antenna structure 1011 can be providedfully or partially under the spacer.

FIG. 10C presents a similar example, but relies on a small connector1017 such as a standard MCX connector to connect a line 1019 from theantenna receiver/transmitter to the antenna structure 1011 and groundplane 1007. Many types of small (e.g., no dimension greater than aboutan inch) connectors are available for making connections the necessaryconnection. As connector 1017 does not include grounded shielding ofcable 1003, a separate conductive line 1021 is used to route the groundplane 1007 to a ground terminal of connector 1017. Various options areavailable for implementing conductive line 1021. One of these is shownin FIGS. 10D and E. As shown there, conductive line 1021 is strip thatconforms to the edge of lite 1001 as it extends from connector 1017 toground plane 1007. Conductive line 1021 may be a strip of malleablematerial such as metal foil, e.g., copper foil. Alternatively, theconductive line 1021 may be a flexible tape containing a conductor,similar to those depicted in FIGS. 11D and G, but not necessarilyrequiring more than a single conductor line. In the detail shown in FIG.10E, line 1021 connects to ground plane 1007 via solder 1025. Of course,friction fittings, conductive ink, etc. may be used in lieu of solder.As shown in FIGS. 10D and 10E, a conductive line 1023 spans the distancefrom connector 1017 to antenna element 1011. In certain embodiments,line 1023 is a strip of transparent conducting material or conductiveink. Current carrying conductive lines on lite surfaces will bedescribed below.

FIG. 10F illustrates an embodiment for providing an electricalconnection to a patch antenna 1011 via a conductive line 1023. In thisembodiment, a wire 1029 or other free standing conductive line passesthrough a spacer 1027 of an IGU including lite 1001. Wire 1029 mayattach to the conductive line 1023 via solder or other connection.

Interconnect on a Lite Surface

In the case of a ground plane and antenna structure located on the sameplane, one example of a suitable interconnection design is provided inFIG. 9D. As shown there, a fractal patch antenna 995 and ground planestrips 993 are disposed on a single surface (e.g., S2) of a lite 991. Atransceiver connects to the ground plane and patch antenna structure viaa cable 997 having a central conductor 998 and a grounded sheathsurrounding the central conductor. The ground plane strips 993 areelectrically connected to the cable sheath via short connectors 999,which may be, for example, soldered to strips 993. The antenna structure995 is electrically connected to central conductor 998 via solder orother appropriate connection.

When a transmission line is provided on a window surface between anantenna structure and another element such as a ground plane ortransmitter, the transmission line should be designed so that it doesnot radiate. To this end, the transmission line may be implemented asthree parallel lines, the central one being a signal carrying line andthe surrounding ones being ground lines.

Such design may be needed when the antenna structure is located on aregion of a window relatively far from the lite's edge where the groundplane, transmitter, or receiver is connected. For example, the antennastructure may need to be some distance from a conductive framingstructure such as a mullion or transom.

In conventional cabling, such as coaxial cabling, shielding isaccomplished with a grounded shield around the conductors in theinterior of the cable. In a window implementation described here, wherethe transmission line spans some distance on the lite's surface, asimilar shielding structure can be provided by placing groundedconductive strips on either side of a central signal conducting line. Asimilar three conductor structure may be employed when flexible tape isemployed to provide the electrical connection such as the tape shown inFIG. 11G, but on a flat surface.

Interconnect Between a Controller and Antenna Components

In some implementations, an antenna controller (e.g., receiver and/ortransmitter control logic), which may be implemented with anelectrochromic window controller or other logic, may be positioned on apane of an IGU, for example on a surface that can be accessed from theinterior of the building. In the case of an IGU having two panes, forexample, the controller may be provided on surface S4. FIGS. 11A-11Cdepict embodiments where various controller components are provided in acarrier 1108 that may be mounted on a base 1107, which may be attachedto surface S4 of an inboard lite 1100 b via pressure sensitive adhesive(e.g., double-sided tape and the like, not shown) or a differentadhesive (e.g. an epoxy or other adhesive). In various cases, thecarrier 1108 may house all the components typically found in an antennaand optionally a window controller.

In FIG. 11A, an IGU includes an outboard lite 1100 a and an inboard lite1100 b, having surfaces S1-S4 as shown. Lites 1100 a and 1100 b areseparated by a spacer 1101, which is hermetically sealed to the lites1100 a and 1100 b through a primary seal material (not shown). A bus bar1102 runs under the spacer 1101, e.g. along its length (into and out ofthe plane of the page), with a bus bar lead 1103 that extendsperipherally outward past the edge of spacer 1101. Carrier 1108registers with and fits onto base 1107. In this example, base 1107 isconnected to a connector 1117 via a cable 1127. The connector 1117 maybe an M8 connector in some cases. Cable 1127 may deliver power and/orcommunication information to the IGU. The power and/or communicationinformation may be transferred from base 1107 to carrier 1108 throughany available connections. In FIG. 11A, power and/or communicationinformation may be transferred from the base 1107 to the carrier 1108through one or more connections 1125 and 1126 on the base 1107 andcarrier 1108, respectively.

The carrier 1108 includes a printed circuit board (PCB) 1109, with avariety of components 1111 a, 1111 b, and 1111 c installed thereon. Thecomponents 1111 a-c may be a number of different components typicallyused by those of ordinary skill in the art and, e.g. described inrelation to FIG. 2E. The various components on the circuit board may allbe provided on a single side of the circuit board in some cases, whilein other cases components may be provided on both side of the circuitboard. The controller may have more than one circuit board, e.g. in astacked format or side to side in the same plane.

A series of electrical connection structures such as spring-loaded pogopins 1110 a, 1110 b, and 1110 c may provide power from the carrier 1108through the base 1107, to components located below the base 1107. Theelectrical connection structures may provide permanent or temporaryelectrical connections. The electrical connection structures may providea secure attachment by adhesion, metallurgical bonding, friction, etc.In some cases, friction may be provided by spring loading (e.g., in thecase of pogo pins), pressure from the overall connections between thecarrier 1108/base 1107/lite 1100 b, etc. While the following examplespresent pogo pins, this is merely an example. The connections may begold plated, e.g. to increase reliability and prevent corrosion.

For example, pogo pin 1110 a provides power to an electrical connection1106, which routes power from S4 to S2, where the EC film (not shown)and bus bar 1102 are provided. The electrical connection 1106 mayprovide power to the bus bar lead 1103. Electrical connection 1106 maybe a thin tape patterned with conductive lines (e.g., copper ink, silverink, etc.), a ribbon cable, another type of cable, a clip patterned withconductive lines thereon or therein, or a different type of electricalconnection. Similar connections can be provided to antenna components.

A seal material 1105 may be provided in some cases between the inboardlite 1100 b and the electrical connection 1106, which may help ensurethat the interior of the IGU remains hermetically sealed. In some suchcases (not shown), this seal material 1105 (or anther seal material) mayextend to reach along the outer perimeter of the spacer 1101 to helpkeep the electrical connection 1106 in place next to the spacer 1101.The seal material 1105 may be a pressure sensitive seal material oranother kind of seal material. Located peripherally outside of thespacer 1101 and the electrical connection 1106 is a secondary sealmaterial 1104. Alternatively, connector 1106, rather than passing aroundthe edge of the inner pane, may pass through an aperture through theinner pane, e.g. where 1106 emanates at the base and thus is not seen bythe end user. In this case a sealing material like 1105 may be used toseal around 1106 (e.g. a wire) to seal between 1106 and the aperture inthe inner lite through which 1106 passes.

A second pogo pin 1110 b may provide an electrical connection betweenthe carrier 1108 and component 1115, while a third pogo pin 1110 c mayprovide an electrical connection between the carrier 1108 and component1116. In various embodiments, components 1115 and 1116 may form part ofan antenna that is patterned onto surface S4. For instance, component1115 may provide a ground connection for a ground plane of the antenna,and component 1116 may be a part of the antenna structure (e.g., a stripline, fractal element, log periodic element, etc.). In some embodiments,a ground plane and/or antenna structure may be provided on any one orall of S1-S4, on a spacer of the IGU, on the window/antenna controlleritself, on a frame, mullion, or transom, or on another componentassociated with the IGU or window. Electrical connections to the antennaare configured appropriately depending upon the location of componentson glass surfaces or in between the panes, e.g. in, or on the spacersurfaces.

Although only three pogo pins are shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, any number ofpogo pins may be provided, as needed to power different components orreceive input from antennas and the like. In one example, an additionalpogo pin (not shown) is provided, which provides power to a PV connectorsimilar to the electrical connector 1106. The PV connector may have thesame shape/properties as electrical connector 1106, but instead ofdelivering power to the bus bars, the PV connector delivers power from aPV film positioned on surface S2 to the carrier 1108. In cases where thePV film is positioned on surface S3, the PV connector may simply deliverpower from the PV film on surface S3 to the base and/or carrier onsurface S4, similar to the electrical connector 1120 shown in FIG. 11B.The PV connector may supply power from the PV cell to an onboard batteryor supercapacitor as described. Any of the mechanisms and hardwaredescribed herein for routing power between (a) a carrier and/or base and(b) bus bars (or conductors electrically connected with the bus bars)may also be used for establishing an electrical connection between (a) acarrier and/or base and (b) a PV film positioned on one of the lites ofthe IGU.

The carrier 1108 may fit securely over the base 1107, and in some casesmay lock into place (e.g., to prevent theft and minimize any possibledamage). A mouse hole, thin slit, or other opening may be provided inthe carrier 1108, through which cable 1127 may run. Cable 1127 may behidden from sight by virtue of the carrier being positioned sufficientlyclose to the frame of the window so as to obscure cable 1127 (whichpasses into the frame, e.g. connector 1117 is within the frame and makeselectrical connection there).

FIG. 11B presents an embodiment similar to the one shown in FIG. 11A,and only the two primary differences will be described. In FIG. 11B,cable 1127 connects directly to the carrier 1108 rather than to the base1107 (though in an alternative embodiment, it may be configured as inFIG. 11A). Thus, there is no need for any connections (such as 1125 and1126 of FIG. 11A) for bringing power and/or communication informationfrom the base 1107 to the carrier 1108. In this example, the base 1107may be unpowered, with power being transferred directly from the carrier1108 to the electrical connection 1120 (and to components 1115 and 1116)through the pogo pins 1110 a-c. In another embodiment, one or more ofthe pogo pins 1110 a-c may terminate on top of the base 1107 instead ofgoing through the base 1107. The base 1107 may then transfer power, viaany available electrical connections, to the components below the base1107. In one example, the base 1107 includes conductive traces, eachtrace electrically connecting (a) the point at which a pogo pin 1110 a-ctouches the base 1107 and (b) the component below the base 1107 that ispowered by the associated pogo pin (e.g., components 1115 and 1116, andelectrical connections 1106 or 1120). Alternatively or in addition, thebase may include electrical connections that pass through the base,rather than being provided only on a surface of the base.

Another difference in FIG. 11B compared to FIG. 11A is that theelectrical connection 1106 is replaced by a different electricalconnection 1120 and a block 1121. The electrical connection 1120 bringspower from S4 to S3, around the edge of the inboard lite 1100 b. Theblock 1121 brings power from S3 to S2, where it can deliver power to thebus bar lead 1103 and/or antenna components. The block 1121 may beconductive or have conductors thereon or therein to accomplish thispurpose. In one example, the block 1121 is made of a material that iseasy to securely insert between the lites 1100 a and 1100 b. Examplematerials include foam, rubber, silicone, etc. In some cases, conductivelines may be printed on the block to electrically connect S2 and S3, insome embodiments the block is mated with an adhesive backed ribbon cableor flexible printed circuit to make the connections between S2 and S3.

The electrical connection 1120 may be any of the types of connectionsdescribed with respect to electrical connection 1106. Seal material (notshown) may be provided between the spacer 1101 and the block 1121 toensure a hermetic seal.

FIG. 11C presents an embodiment similar to the one shown in FIG. 11B,and only the primary difference will be described. In FIG. 11C, theblock 1121 is replaced by a wire 1122 (or series of wires), which bringspower from S3 to S2. In a similar embodiment, a block or sheet (notshown) may be provided to secure the wire 1122 (or other electricalconnection) against the spacer 1101. This technique may ensure that thewire 1122 or other electrical connection is out of the way when thesecondary seal 1104 is formed. In an alternative configuration, wire orwires 1122 may pass through pane 1100 b via an aperture or apertures andoptionally a sealant material may be used to form a hermetic seal sothat moisture cannot also pass through the aperture(s).

In each of FIGS. 11A-11C, one set of electrical connections is shownproviding power from S4 to S2. However, it should be understood thateach electrochromic window has two (or more) bus bars, and theelectrical connections should be configured to bring appropriate powerconnections to each bus bar. Further, any of the electrical connectiondesigns may be used to bring power and/or data to and/or from antennaelements.

Although not explicitly shown in FIGS. 11A-11C, either or both of thebase 1107 and the carrier 1108 may include a programmable chip thatincludes information relevant to the associated IGU such as informationabout an antenna and/or an electrochromic lite in the IGU. Suchinformation may relate to any one or more of the following: the antennaconfiguration (e.g., monopole, dipole, strip line, fractal, etc.), thefrequency characteristics of the antenna, the radiation intensitydistribution (e.g., omnidirectional), the polarization state of thetransmitted or received radiation, the drive parameters of the antenna,size of the window, materials of the window and associatedelectrochromic device, current and voltage limitations particular to theelectrochromic device, control algorithms or other control parametersparticular to the electrochromic device (e.g., required drive and holdvoltages and ramps), cycling and other lifetime information, etc. It maybe particularly beneficial to include the chip in the base 1107 toeliminate the risk that the chip gets mismatched through a mistakeninstallation on a different window. In this way, the carrier 1108 may beessentially generic/swappable, such that it would make no differencewhich carrier gets paired with which IGU. This feature may significantlydecrease installation complications and errors. Similarly, some of theother components typically found in a controller may be provided in abase or other dock, as desired (e.g., as opposed to being provided inthe carrier). As mentioned elsewhere, in cases where the dock itselfincludes components typically found in the controller, the term “thecontroller” may refer to the dock, the carrier, or both. Also not shownin FIGS. 11A-11C, either or both of the base 1107 or carrier 1108 mayinclude a port (e.g., a USB port, mini USB port, micro USB port, etc.).In various embodiments, the port may be oriented such that the devicethat interfaces with the port (e.g., a USB drive) inserts in a directionthat is parallel with the lites of the IGU. In some other embodiments,the port may be oriented such that the device that interfaces with theport inserts in a direction that is normal to the lites of the IGU.Other options are possible, for example where the dock and/or carrier isnot rectangularly shaped.

FIG. 11D presents an example of a piece of flexible tape that hasconductive lines; it may in a sense be viewed as a flexible printedcircuit. The conductive tape is shown in the shape it would have if usedfor the electrical connection 1106 shown in FIG. 11A. The tape wrapsaround the inboard lite 1100 b, extends over the outer perimeter of thespacer 1101, and rests on S2 of the outboard lite 1100 a, where it canprovide a powered connection to the bus bars/bus bar leads (not shown),with one lead for each bus bar. Similarly, the flexible tape can be usedto provide electrical connections to antenna components such as a groundplane and one or more antenna structures. In some embodiments when usedfor connection with an antenna structure, the tape may include threeconductors, rather than the two shown in FIG. 11D. For example, asdepicted in FIG. 11G, a central conductor 1191 is used for signalcommunication, and the outer conductors 1193 are grounded to prevent thecentral conductor from radiating. In general, the tape can be deliverpower and/or communications between any surfaces of an IGU (e.g., S4-S3,S4-S2, S4-S1, S3-S1, S2-S1, and S3-S2). The individual antenna elementsare connected to an antenna controller (receiver and/or transmitter)through the connections. In certain embodiments, the flexible tapeincludes an adhesive surface allowing it to adhere to the IGU structuresit traverses.

FIG. 11E presents a view of a portion of an IGU as described in relationto FIG. 11A. The base 1107 is shown mounted on the inboard lite 1100 b.The electrical connection 1106 delivers power from S4 to S2, therebybringing power to a first bus bar lead 1125 a and to a second bus barlead 1125 b. The first bus bar lead 1125 a may deliver power to a firstbus bar, while the second bus bar lead 1125 b may deliver power to asecond bus bar. In embodiments where additional bus bars are provided(e.g., to define different zones within a single EC lite), additionallines on the conductive tape, and additional bus bar leads connecting tosuch tape, may be provided. Likewise, if other electrical components ofthe window assembly reside on S1, S2, S3 and/or S4, such as antennacomponents, the flexible tape circuit can be configured to makeelectrical connection to these additional components. Base 1107 is shownin FIG. 11E to include a number of features 1119. These features may bea variety of different components including, but not limited to, holesprovided to accommodate sensors (e.g., light sensors), holes toaccommodate connections (e.g., pogo pins) to window elements,connections for transferring power and/or communication informationbetween the base and the carrier, locking mechanisms for ensuring thatthe carrier doesn't come off the base unless appropriate, etc. Althoughthe base is depicted with a single flexible circuit tape type connectore.g. running to one side of the base, there may be other flexible tapecircuits running to the base. For example, one tape may run as depictedand another run to another side of the base. This embodiment mayfacilitate having contacts on e.g. S2, S3 for coatings, antennacomponents, etc. thereon and not having to make a single circuit tapemake all the connections. Though in certain embodiments a single circuittape is desirable for simplicity of fabrication, e.g. a convergentfabrication where all the electrical connections between the lites aremade using a single location (flexible circuit). In some embodiments, atape connector may include more than two conductive lines. It may alsoinclude one or branches for directing some conductive lines to onelocation and one or more other conductive lines to one or more otherlocations.

FIG. 11F illustrates the embodiment of FIG. 11E with the carrier 1108installed on the base (not shown). Cable 1127 provides power and/orcommunication information to the IGU, and may connect to the base 1107(as shown in FIG. 11A) or to the carrier 1108 (as shown in FIGS. 11B and11C). The connector 1117 may mate with another connector 1130, which mayprovide power and/or communication via cable 1128. The connectors 1117and 1130 may be M8 connectors, and cable 1128 may be a drop line, whichmay connect directly to a trunk line as described herein. Cable 1127 maybe a window cable, also referred to as an IGU cable. FIG. 11F shows thecable 1127 and the electrical connection 1106 emanating from differentsides of the carrier 1108 (and/or base 1107), though in otherembodiments these two connections may emanate from the same side of thecarrier 1108 (and/or base 1107). Even though having a hard wiredconnection to power is present in this embodiment, it still has theadvantage that the controller is readily accessible on e.g. S4 of theIGU and the controller can be removable, e.g. in a modular,cartridge-type format.

One embodiment is an electrochromic window having an antenna controllermounted on a pane of the window, where the antenna controller has a baseand a carrier. In one embodiment the antenna controller has a cartridgeformat, where the base and the carrier dock with each other in areversible interlocking fashion. In one embodiment, the controllerincludes a battery. In one embodiment the battery is removable from thecontroller. In one embodiment the battery is part of the base. Inanother embodiment, the battery is part of the carrier. In oneembodiment the battery is a flat battery. In one embodiment the batteryis rechargeable. In one embodiment, the battery is a lithium ion basedbattery. In one embodiment the carrier and base have a tamper proofmechanism to detach the carrier from the base. In one embodiment, thebase is adhesively attached to the pane. In one embodiment the base isin electrical communication with an electrochromic device of theelectrochromic window via a circuit tape or a ribbon cable. In oneembodiment the base is in electrical communication with an antenna ofthe electrochromic window via a circuit tape or a ribbon cable. In oneembodiment the base is in electrical communication with one or moreantenna components of the electrochromic window via a circuit tape or aribbon cable. In one embodiment the base is in electrical communicationwith bus bars or a sensor of the electrochromic window via a circuittape or a ribbon cable. In one embodiment the top (outermost facing fromthe pane) surface of the base is about ½ inch or less from the surfaceof the pane to which it is attached, for example about ⅜ inch or lessfrom the surface of the pane, for example ⅛ inch or less from thesurface of the pane. In one embodiment, the top (outermost facing fromthe pane) surface of the carrier, when docked with the base, is about 1inch or less from the surface of the pane to which it is attached, forexample about ¾ inch or less from the surface of the pane, for example ½inch or less from the surface of the pane. In one embodiment the base isrectangular. In one embodiment the base's shape has at least one rightangle so that it can fit into a corner of a frame that supports theelectrochromic window. In one embodiment, the controller includes atleast one display. The display may be e.g. an LCD display, and LEDdisplay or the like. The display may indicate the tint level of theelectrochromic window or an antenna setting. In one embodiment thecontroller includes control switches, e.g. buttons and/or a keypad. Thecontrol switches may for example, correspond to tint states and/orantenna settings. The controller may include one or more indicatorlights, e.g. LED's, to indicate a tint level change, antenna state,wireless communication connectivity, power status and the like; thesefunctions may also be displayed via the aforementioned display with orwithout separate indicator lights. In one embodiment the controllerincludes a USB port. In one embodiment the controller includes anoptical fiber communication port. In one embodiment the controllerincludes a coaxial connection port. In one embodiment the controllerincludes an antenna. In one embodiment the controller has wirelesscommunication, e.g. Bluetooth.

IGUs are typically installed in a frame or framing system for support.Individual IGUs may be installed in individual frames, while largernumbers of IGUs may be installed in a curtain wall or similar structure,with mullions and transoms separating adjacent windows. All of thesecomponents may be considered to form the frame of an IGU. In a number ofembodiments, a hole, slit, or other perforation may be provided in aframe that surrounds an IGU, and one or more wires/cables may be fedthrough the perforation. For example, in the context of FIG. 11F, cable1127 may be routed through such an aperture in a frame surrounding theIGU. In a similar embodiment, both the cable 1127 and the electricalconnection 1106 emanate from the same side of the carrier 1108 (or adock thereunder), and the frame into which the IGU is installed includesa hole proximate where the electrical connection 1106 wraps around theedge of the inboard lite 1100 b. This hole may be hidden by the edge ofthe carrier 1108 (or dock in another embodiment), which may abut againstthe interior edge of the frame. In some cases, the outer casing of thecarrier 1108 may be made of a material that has a certain degree of give(e.g., rubber, pliable plastic, etc.) such that it is easy to abut thecarrier against the frame without any space in between. In otherembodiments, though the case of the carrier is rigid, a flexiblematerial, such as foam or rubber is applied to one side of the casingand/or the frame around the hole, so that when the carrier is dockedwith the base, the flexible material obscures connection 1106 and/orcable 1127. Similarly, the portion of the carrier that abuts the edge ofthe frame may be made of such a material, with the remaining portions ofthe carrier being made of different materials. Cable 1127 may be routedthrough the hole in the frame and connected with power and/orcommunication delivered via cable 1128. In this way the on glasscontroller has a very clean look, no wiring or electrical connections tothe controller can be seen by the end user; and since the controller'sfootprint is small (e.g. less than 4 in², less than 3 in², or less than2 in²), it takes up very little of the viewable area of the window.

FIG. 11F can also be used to illustrate another embodiment. For example,rather than 1108 being a dock for a carrier (controller), it can be auser interface, e.g. a control pad, e.g. a touch pad, key pad or touchscreen display (and thus thin, for example) and the wiring 1106 is usedto connect the user interface to a controller in the secondary seal.This is akin to the embodiment where the carrier contains the controllercircuitry and a user control interface, but moving the controllercircuitry between the glass, e.g. in the secondary seal and keeping theuser interface on the glass. Thus wiring 1106 would connect the busbars, antennas, and other features as described above between the panes,but also the controller circuitry, which is also between the panes inthis example, to the control pad. The user interface may be affixed,e.g. with an adhesive, and may be removable/replaceable. The userinterface may be very thin, having e.g. only keypad connections toflexible circuit 1106 or the control pad may be a digital display (whichcan also be thin and e.g. flexible). The control interface may be atleast partially transparent. In one embodiment, the user controlinterface and circuit 1106 are a single component. For example, anadhesive sealant 1105 on the back of 1106 (as described above) may alsobe on the back of the user control interface with e.g. a protectivebacking for a “peel and stick” form factor. For example, duringfabrication, appropriate electrical contacts to the bus bars, antennae,controller and other components between the panes are made to a localarea on S2 and/or S3 as appropriate. When the lites are brought togetherduring IGU formation, the local areas, if one on both S2 and S3 forexample, are registered. Then the user interface is peeled and stuckonto the glass, e.g. starting from S3, across the spacer, onto S2,around the edge of pane 1100 b and then onto S4. In this way aconvergent (and thus efficient) fabrication process is realized.

FIG. 11H depicts a flexible tape type interconnect 1150 having a firstportion 1152 for providing signal to/from an antenna structure and asecond portion 1154 for providing power to bus bars of an electrochromicdevice. Within first portion 1152, a central conductor 1164 is providedfor carrying signal to/from the antenna structure associated with awindow, while outer conductors 1160 and 1162 are grounded and blockpassage of radiation. Within second portion 1154, conductors 1156 and1158 are provided for powering the opposite polarity electrodes on theelectrochromic device. The depicted interconnect includes a branch thatallows the first portion and second portion to separate and direct theirconductors to different locations, where the bus bars and antennaelements may reside. In certain embodiments, all logic for controllingthe electrochromic device and the antenna components is provided at asingle location such as a hybrid window/antenna controller as describedelsewhere herein. While not depicted in this figure, interconnect 1150typically extends beyond the top and bottom end points shown here.

Arrays of Window Antennas

FIG. 12 shows an array of IGUs 202 such as described with reference toany of the implementations illustrated or described above. For example,such an array can be arranged on a side or façade of a building. Each ofthe antenna structures within each of the respective IGUs can beindependently controlled (for example, by a network controller andcorresponding window controllers described above) with different signalsor different phases to selectively provide constructive and destructiveinterference and ultimately provide for more granular directionality ofthe transmitted signals. Further, such an arrangement can be used to mapan exterior environment or an interior environment. Additionally, suchas arrangement or array of antennas can provide the gain needed tocollectively serve as a broadcast tower or reception tower therebyobviating the need for other broadcast (for example, cellular towers).

Phased arrays of antennas can be advantageous for directing thetransmission of signals along a certain direction to reach a particularregion as well as to narrow a region where reception is desired. Suchdirectional transmission or reception also is referred to as beamformingor spatial filtering. Spatial filtering using phased arrays is generallyaccomplished by combining elements in a phased array such that signalsat particular angles experience constructive interference while signalsat other angles experience destructive interference. As noted above,beamforming can be used at both the transmitting and receiving ends inorder to achieve spatial selectivity. To change the directionality ofthe array when transmitting, a controller controls the phases andrelative amplitudes of the signals provided to each of the transmittingantenna elements to create a pattern of constructive and destructiveinterference in the wave front collectively produced by the phasedarray. Similarly, when receiving, information from different antennaelements is combined and otherwise processed to preferentially observeor otherwise provide information within a particular region of space oralong a particular direction. In some implementations, each signal sentto (or received from) each antenna may be amplified by a different“weight.” Different weighting patterns (e.g., Dolph-Chebyshev) can beused to achieve the desired sensitivity patterns. For example, a mainlobe (the “beam”) can be produced having a controlled width togetherwith nulls and side lobes having controlled positions, directions orwidths. FIG. 13A shows a conventional cell tower network, e.g. havingfour cellular towers positioned as necessary for appropriate overlap soas to maintain substantially complete geographical coverage for atheoretical urban and rural zone. FIG. 13B depicts using three of thebuildings as cell tower surrogates by using antennae equipped glass,e.g. electrochromic antennae equipped glass as described herein, in eachof the three buildings. In this way, conventional cell towers may beremoved and, e.g., broader geographical coverage can be achieved whilemaintaining complete coverage and clearing the landscape of manyunwanted conventional cell towers. Moreover, the EC antennae glass canbe used to boost signal internal to each building and/or make cellulartraffic uni- or bidirectional, depending upon the need. The antennawindows may obviate some need for cell towers.

Under appropriate control, arrays of IGUs having antennas work inconcert. At one instant, some window antennas may be selected foractivation and others for quiescence, and the activated antennas haveradiation applied at designated powers, frequencies, and/or phases. Asan example, antennas on adjacent windows arranged in a line may beselectively activated and powered to create a directional radiationpattern. The signal delivered to some or all windows in a façade alsocan be controlled to tune the transmission and/or reception propertiesof the individual windows. Additionally, in implementations in whichsome windows include multiple antenna structure patterns (for, e.g.,transmitting or receiving different frequencies), a controller, such asthe master controller 111 or network controller 112 described above withreference to FIGS. 1A and 1B, can be configured to dynamically selectwhich antenna to use. In implementations employing fractal antennas, acontroller may fine tune the operating frequency of the individualantenna.

Additionally, in some implementations, the antenna structures andantennas described herein can be used to communicate signals between therespective IGU 102 and the window controller 114, the network controller112 or the master controller 111. For example, in some implementations,a window controller 112 can communicate voltage or current driveparameters to a driver within or otherwise associated with the IGU 102via the antenna structures described herein. The driver can be connectedto one or more power sources and a ground and use the parametersreceived from the window controller 114 to power the ECD within the IGU102. As another example, in implementations in which each IGU 102includes one or more sensors (for example, a temperature sensor, acurrent sensor, a voltage sensor, a light sensor, or other environmentalsensors), a window controller 114 can wireless request and/or receivesensor data from the sensors via the antenna structures describedherein. In some other implementations, a window controller 114 cancommunicate with the network controller 112 or the master controller111, and vice versa, via the antenna structure described herein.

In various implementations, some or all of the antenna structuresdescribed herein are configured to operate in selected frequency rangessuch as, but not limited to, the ISM bands, and particularly, the ISMbands for cellular communication (for example, the 700 MHz, 800 MHz, 850MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, PCS, AWS, and BRS/EBS bands) and Wi-Fi (forexample, the 2.4 GHz UHF and 5 GHz SHF bands) including those frequencyused by the Bluetooth wireless technology standard. Such antennastructures also can function as microbeacons, picocells, andfemptocells.

With the movement to 4G and 5G wireless mobile telecommunicationsstandards, cellular service carriers are moving from a model that relieson large high-power cell towers to a model that relies on multiplesmaller power transmitters. Part of the motivation is to blanket an areawith coverage and maintain capacity recognizing that power to receiversfalls off with the square of distance from a cell transmitter. Thedisclosed approach of controlling multiple windows of the building orpossibly even multiple buildings which can each be tuned to particularpowers and frequencies of transmission perhaps meshes with the 4G/5Gmodel.

Properties of a Transparent Conductive Layer Used for a Ground Planeand/or Antenna Structure

Some of the discussed embodiments employ a ground plane as a sheet oftransparent conductive material having the appropriate properties, and aprinted or patterned antenna structures. In many embodiments, the groundplane is present in the viewable area of an IGU, and, as such, theground plane material should be substantially transparent at thethickness required to provide its function.

As an example, a ground plane fabricated from indium tin oxide may havea thickness of about 1700 nm or greater for transmission or reception ofa 2.54 GHz signal. Some metal ion doped TCO materials may have increasedconductivity and thereby permit thinner ground plane areas. Examples ofmetal ion dopants include silver and copper.

In certain embodiments, the antennas pattern is defined by thinconductive lines deposited on a layer of the electrochromic devicestack. The thin conductor layers may be provided by printing conductiveink or laying down wires such as a wire mesh, etc. Whether printed orprovided by a mesh or otherwise, the conductive lines should besufficiently thin that they do not impact viewing by the occupantthrough the window.

When a wire mesh is used, it may be provided as a prefabricated mesh,which is then laminated or otherwise affixed to an appropriateconductive or insulating layer that serves as part of or is integratedwith the electrochromic device stack. Alternatively, rolling masklithography techniques can be used to deposit the wire mesh. The patterndefining the antenna maybe created by selectively removing portions ofthe wire mesh area or whole wires.

Fabrication of-Window Antenna Structures

As indicated elsewhere herein, various techniques may be employed forfabricating antennas on windows. Such techniques include printingantenna structures, blanket depositing of ground planes, etchingconductive layers to form antenna structures or ground planes, masking,lithography, etc. as well understood by those of skill in the art.Various materials may be employed to form the antenna structures andground planes, and some of these materials are identified elsewhereherein. In some embodiments, the material is a conductive ink such as asilver ink. In some embodiments, the material is a conductivetransparent material such as transparent conductive oxide (e.g., indiumtin oxide).

In certain embodiments, an antenna or plurality of antennas on one ormore surfaces of an electrochromic window's substrate(s) comprises amaterial deposited by a sol-gel process. In certain embodiments, thesol-gel process involves applying a gelled precursor material to thesubstrate as a thin-film in a pattern corresponding to the antenna(s)desired. After an optional drying process, the thin-film is heated toform the antenna(s). The substrate may be heated to effect heating ofthe thin-film, either locally or the entire substrate. The heattreatment can be, e.g., in the range of 100° C. to 400° C., e.g. 150° C.to 350° C., in another example, 200° C. to 300° C. The heating may takeplace for between about 30 minutes and 5 hours, for example betweenabout 1 hour and about 3 hours.

The sol-gel process is a method for producing solid materials fromcolloidal solutions. The method is used for the fabrication of metaloxides, for example ITO and other oxides for antennae described herein.The colloidal solution forms an integrated network of discrete particlesor network polymers which is the gelled precursor. Typical gelledprecursors comprise one or more metal oxides and/or metal alkoxides,e.g. indium tin oxide, and may contain silicon oxides, such as silicondioxide. In one embodiment, the one or more metal oxides and/or metalalkoxides is based on one or more of the following metals: aluminum,antimony, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, germanium, gold, indium,iridium, iron, molybdenum, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhodium,ruthenium, tantalum, tin, titanium, tungsten, silver, zinc andzirconium.

The thin-film pattern may be applied to the substrate, e.g., by ink jetprinting, screen printing, spraying while using masks, and the like. Incertain embodiments the thin-film pattern is a localized area on thewindow substrate, where the area does not have any particularpatterning. The localized area has sufficient dimensions from which topattern one or more antenna, e.g. an antenna suite. After the thin filmis heat treated, it is patterned, e.g., by laser ablation, to form theantenna(s) as described herein.

Various other deposition processes may be employed. Examples includechemical vapor deposition and physical vapor deposition. Thesetechniques may be employed with patterning such as a mask on the lite.In one example, the physical or chemical deposition process is employedwith a traditional lift-off technique where the process applies aphotoresist to the lite and then patterns the resist to reveal thedesired antenna pattern. After deposition, the process lifts off of thephotoresist leaving behind the lite except for region(s) wherein TCO orother conductor is deposited. Other processes may be employed such asink jet or screen print, which may be performed, e.g., over a litewithout anything else on it or on an electrochromic lite after the liteleaves its coating apparatus with, e.g., a protective insulative topcoat.

Applications for Window Networks

Window antennas may be used for various applications benefiting theoptically switchable windows and/or associated systems. Examples of suchapplications include personalization services and wireless networkcommunication.

For internal building communication nodes/hardware, window antennas canreplace some or all of the conventional antennas such Wi-Fi antennas,small base stations, internal repeaters, network interfaces, etc. Suchapplications of window antennas can improve interior aesthetics byclearing out conventional internal antennas hanging off thewalls/ceilings for internal cell, computer and other deviceconnectivity. Additionally, window antennas may obviate some need forcell towers.

Personalization Services

Generally, personalization services provide window or antenna conditionsapplicable to particular individuals who use regions of building (e.g.,rooms and lobbies). Different individuals can have different associatedwindow parameters. For example, a first individual may prefer arelatively dark room with no Wi-Fi services and security features thatblock incoming and outgoing wireless signals. A second individual mayprefer a much brighter room with Wi-Fi services. The building may have adefault setting for all rooms which does not match the preferences ofeither individual. For example, the default setting may be no Wi-Fi orsecurity services and window tint state settings based on time of dayand current weather conditions. Using personalization services, when anoccupant enters a region of a building, the window/antenna systemdetermines that the occupant is present and determines the occupant'spersonal settings and adjusts the window and/or antenna settings toconform to the occupant's preferences. Some of the personalization canbe executed in advance of an occupant's arrival in an area byextrapolating the occupant's directional movement i.e. walking through abuilding lobby towards an office.

In one example, a window antenna in the relevant region of the buildingdetermines that an occupant has entered or is entering. Thisdetermination may be made via communications with the occupant's smartphone or other wireless communications device. Bluetooth is one exampleof a suitable protocol for communicating between the user and a localwindow antenna. Other link protocols may be used (e.g. UWB, Wi-Fi,ZigBee, RF, etc.). In implementation, the occupant's smart phone (orother device) communicates a user ID received by the window antenna. Theantenna and network logic then determine the occupant parameters bylooking them up in a database or other source of occupant parameters. Inanother implementation, the occupant's smart phone or othercommunication device stores the parameters and transmits them to thewindow antenna.

Examples of personalization services that may be available to occupantinclude any one or more of the following:

1. Tint levels of optically switchable windows in the vicinity of anoccupant

2. Communication shielding on/off. For example, an antenna, groundplane, etc. may be placed in a state that blocks electromagneticcommunications from passing through a window or other structurecontaining the antenna, ground plane, etc.

3. Notifications based on user location for retail applications. In someimplementations, a building's network determines that a particularcustomer is at a particular location in the building. It may do bydetecting communications between the customer's mobile device and anantenna at the location. Based on a user ID communicated via theantenna, the building/retail logic sends a notification to the user (viaa mobile device application, for example). The notification may containinformation about merchandise in the vicinity of the customer and theantenna. Such information may include promotions (sale price, forexample), merchandise specifications, vendor information, reviews byother customers, reviews by professional reviewers, etc. A customer maypersonalize the retail building parameters so that the customer receivessome, all, or none of the available information.4. Communicating personalized settings to non-window systems such asthermostats, lighting systems, door locks, etc. via a BMS or otherbuilding system/network once an occupant is detected in the vicinity.Occupants may personalization such settings to allow communication ofsettings to some, all, or none of the non-window settings.5. Wireless charging of small devices such as an occupant's mobiledevice when the user is detected in the in the vicinity of a wirelesscharging circuit; e.g., an inductively coupled circuit.

Any one or more of an individual's personalization parameters (e.g.,preferred tint levels and preferred communications shielding) may bestored on a storage device that is part of a window and/or antennanetwork of the building. In some cases, the storage device is not on thebuilding's window and/or antenna network, but the device is accessibleto the building's network. For example, the storage device may reside ina remote location having a communications link with the window/antennanetwork. Examples of remote locations for the storage device include adifferent building, a publically available data storage medium (e.g.,the cloud), a central control center for multiple buildings (e.g., seeU.S. Patent Application No. 62/088,943, filed Dec. 8, 2014, andincorporated herein by reference in its entirety), etc. In someembodiments, the individual's personalization parameters are storedlocally, either on the user's mobile device or on a local window orantenna controller (i.e., a controller at the location of theoptically-switchable window or window device that can be adjusted by theindividual's personalization parameters). In some cases, theindividual's mobile device does not store the parameter's locally butcan access them over a cellular or other network that is separate fromthe window or antenna network for the building. In such cases, theparameters can be downloaded to the mobile device, as needed, orsupplied from a remote storage location, via the mobile device, to thelocal window and/or antenna controller. Local storage or local access topersonalization parameters is useful in the event the building's windowand/or antenna network becomes unavailable (e.g., a network connectionis temporarily severed), and in cases where a network is not present inthe building.

A window control network may provide services, such as weather services,to third parties, including other buildings. Such information can beused by the originating building/network for making local tint decisionand by third parties who may not have sensors, weather feeds etc. Theoriginating building may include window antennas configured to broadcastsuch information to other buildings. Alternatively, or in addition,other buildings may be configured to receive such information fromoriginating building and transmit the information to still otherbuildings via window antennas.

A window/antenna network may be configured to provide security servicessuch as detecting intruders in a building's perimeter, vicinity, orinterior if an intruder is carrying a cell phone or other type of radio.The network may also be configured to detect when any window has beenbroken by, for example, detecting a change in current and/or voltageread from an electrochromic window.

Building-specific personalization services may be used in officesharing, hoteling, and/or seasonal or recurring residential and businessrenting applications. In one example, antennas throughout a multi-roombuilding determine where a visitor is at any time (using, e.g.,geo-positioning methods described elsewhere herein) and supply thislocation information to a mobile application displaying a building mapon the user's mobile device. This map is updated with the visitor'scurrent location as determined by the antennas. In one example, aBluetooth or Bluetooth Low Energy (BTLE) is the protocol used by windowantennas to communicate with the visitor's mobile device and determineuser ID and provide a current location for the user ID. Suchapplications may include features that activate in the context ofemergencies, particularly in building where multiple visitors orstudents are present. Disasters such as fires or earthquakes andsecurity events such as hostage or terrorist situations may trigger themobile application and antennas activate map and instructions evacuationor reaching an internal safe location.

In some embodiments, antennas throughout a multi-room building determinewhere a visitor is at any time (using geo-positioning methods describedelsewhere herein) and use a visitor's location to selectively displayoptions or features to a user. For example, by using positioninformation, a visitor who uses a mobile application to control the tintstate of electrochromic windows may be presented with windowscorresponding to the visitor's current location. This could beparticularly advantageous in a large building where a user could behindered in controlling the tint state of a nearby window by having tofirst sort through windows in another areas of the building, for examplewindows on a different floor. In some embodiments an application maysimply display options corresponding to nearby devices (e.g., anelectrochromic window) in order where the closer and more relevantoptions are listed first.

In some embodiments, one or more window antennas are available toprovide Wi-Fi or other services to occupants and/or tenants of a portionor all of the building where the window antennas are installed. If theoccupant/tenant pays for the service, the antennas and associatedcontrollers are activated to make the service available. If theoccupant/tenant declines the service, the antennas/controllers are notactivated for the service. Of course, the antennas/controllers may beavailable and used for other services, even when the occupant/tenantdeclines the service.

Geo-Fencing and Geo-Location

Window networks may be configured for geo-fencing, a method of creatingvirtual boundaries that correspond to physical geographical regions andmapping the location of devices with respect to the virtual boundaries.When a device crosses such boundary, an application may take aparticular action such as locking or unlocking a door. Geo-fencingapplications have been largely developed for outdoor use where a devicelocation is determined using GPS. For indoor use, GPS is typically aninaccurate or infeasible method to determine location because there isnot a line-of-sight communication to satellites. When GPS location isused, it also suffers from an inability to determine which floor (orother elevation component) of a multi-story building contains a devicesubject to geo-fencing.

Common applications for geo-fencing include targeted advertising onmobile devices, controlling locks and household appliances, and childlocation services that alert parents when a child carrying a deviceenters or leaves a designated area. Development of indoor geo-fencingapplications has suffered from the inability to rely on accurate GPSlocation estimates. To the extent that indoor applications have employednon-GPS techniques such as communication with fixed interior Wi-Fi orBluetooth nodes, such applications have suffered from poor locationresolution, often no better than tens of meters.

In accordance with this disclosure multiple windows and/or windowcontrollers are configured to determine the location of a deviceconfigured to transmit wireless signals such as Bluetooth signals. Uponcommissioning or other technique, the location of each window andcontroller will be established. Using proximity or location informationcollected from one or more window antennas or controllers of a knownphysical location, the location of a device may be determined with ahigh degree of granularity, e.g., on the order of a meter or one-halfmeter. The structure and function of suitable window antennas used ingeo-fencing applications are described throughout this specification.Further, the network of window controllers and/or antennas, includingnetworks containing a network controller and/or a master controller, isdescribed elsewhere herein.

In general, the window antennas and the devices or assets they track viageo-fencing may be configured to communicate via various forms ofwireless electromagnetic transmission; e.g., time-varying electric,magnetic, or electromagnetic fields. Common wireless protocols that areused in the electromagnetic communication include, but are not limitedto, Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi, RF, and ultra-wideband (UWB). The location ofa device may be determined from information relating to receivedtransmissions at one or more antennas including but not limited to: thereceived strength or power, time of arrival or phase, frequency, andangle of arrival of wirelessly transmitted signals. When determining adevice's location from these metrics, a triangulation algorithm may beimplemented that in some instances accounts for the physical layout of abuilding, e.g. walls and furniture. Additionally, networks may make useof internal, magnetic, and other sensors on the device to improvelocation accuracy. For example, using sensed magnetic information itbecomes possible to determine the orientation of an asset which can beused to determine a more accurate footprint of the space that an assetoccupies.

In certain embodiments, the device and window antennas are configured tocommunicate via a micro-location chip using pulse-based ultra-wideband(UWB) technology (ECMA-368 and ECMA-369). UWB is a wireless technologyfor transmitting large amounts of data at low power (typically less than0.5 mW) over short distances (up to 230 feet). The definingcharacteristic of a UWB signal is that it occupies at least 500 MHz ofbandwidth spectrum or at least 20% of its center frequency. UWBbroadcasts digital signal pulses that are timed very precisely on acarrier signal across a number of frequency channels at the same time.Information may be transmitted by modulating the timing or positioningof pulses. Alternatively, information by be transmitted by encoding thepolarity of the pulse, its amplitude and/or by using orthogonal pulses.Aside from being a low power form of information protocol, UWBtechnology may provide several advantages for indoor geo-fencingapplications over other wireless protocols. The broad range of the UWBspectrum comprises low frequencies having long wavelengths, which allowsUWB signals to penetrate a variety of materials, including walls. Thewide range of frequencies, including these low penetrating frequencies,decreases the chance of multipath propagation errors as some wavelengthswill typically have a line-of-sight trajectory. Another advantage ofpulse-based UWB communication is that pulses are typically very short(less than 60 cm for a 500 MHz-wide pulse, less than 23 cm for a 1.3GHz-bandwidth pulse) reducing the chances that reflecting pulses willoverlap with the original pulse. When a device is equipped with amicro-location chip the relative position of the device may bedetermined within an accuracy of 10 cm, and in some cases within anaccuracy of 5 cm.

Movement of a device can be determined by successive signals sentbetween the device and the antennas of a window and/or antenna network.For example, when information regarding the transmission of a firstsignal corresponding to one or more first antennas is analyzed, a firstlocation can be determined. Likewise, at a later moment in time,information regarding the transmission of a second signal correspondingto one or more second antennas is analyzed to determine a secondlocation. Consecutive transmissions, as in the case of this first andsecond transmissions, may have many of the same signal characteristicssuch as frequency, power, and phase, but may differ in that they areprovided at different times and/or different locations. By comparingsuccessive locations of a device over time, the movement (position,velocity, and acceleration) of a device can be estimated or determined.It should be noted that, even as the device moves, some of the firstantennas receiving the first transmission may include some of the secondantennas receiving a second transmission. By tracking positionsmeasurements over time, and thus movement, it becomes possible toperform various geo-fencing methods.

In reference to the antenna and/or controller networks, devices and tagsas disclosed herein are typically electrical components containing anantenna that have an ability to transmit and/or receive wirelesselectromagnetic analog or digital signals. In some instances, devicesmay be configured to send out beacons (e.g., iBeacon) to the antennanetwork allowing devices to act as one one-way transmitters. Devices mayhave the ability to receive electromagnetic signals from nearbyantennas. In some instances, devices may have an ability to analyzeelectromagnetic signals from an appropriately configured antenna networkto partially or fully determine the device's location. In someinstances, a device may transmit received electromagnetic signals to aremote processing system to determine the device's location. Dependingon the application and requirements of a tracked asset or individual,the devices may need to be a particular size. For example, a device maybe small, on the order of millimeters or less in each dimension as isthe case in some RFID tags, micro-location chips, or Bluetooth micromodules, or it may be on the order of a meter or more corresponding tolarge antennas. A device may also contain structures for integratingwith an asset, whether on the exterior or interior of the asset. Devicesmay be active in that they contain a battery or passive devices in thatthey are energized by some means other than a battery, (e.g.electromagnetic waves transmitted from a window antenna).

Assets as referred to herein are tangible items of value such asportable electronic devices (PEDs), e.g., laptops, phones, electronictablets or readers, video recorders, wireless audio components,electronic smart watches, electronic fitness wrist bands, radios, smartglasses, medical implants and cameras; namely, items that containdevices (having the ability to transmit and/or receive wirelesselectromagnetic signals) that can communicate with, or otherwise bedetected by, a window and/or antenna network. Devices are integratedinto assets by methods or mechanisms including but not limited to,attachment to a printed circuit board, bonding to the exterior of theasset, or being incorporated in the casing of an asset. Assets alsoinclude non-electronic items that can be paired to devices such as RFIDtags or micro-location chips that can communicate with an antenna and/orcontroller network. Users described herein are typically people(although they may be animals) that carry a device or tag on theirperson such as when one carries a smart phone, tablet, ID badge and thelike. Animals may have subcutaneous RFID chips. In some cases, thedevice is directly attached to the user or the user's apparel. There arenumerous combinations of users and assets that can be tracked using thedisclosed method.

In some embodiments, the location of a device in a building isdetermined by processing logic within a window network such as in anetwork or master controller. The processing logic receives informationfrom window antennas (or other sources associated with the network)about signals transmitted from the device (e.g., information aboutbroadcasts signals which are received by various window antennas). Inanother embodiment, window antennas are configured to broadcast signalscontaining a signature of the window from which they were transmitted,such that a device receives signals from one or more windows and makes adetermination of its location using location detection logic in thedevice. In an alternative approach, the device sends information itreceives about the nearby window antennas to a remote system that usessuch information to determine the location of the device. In suchinstances determination of location can be conducted in a manneranalogous to that employed on a GPS-enable device. Additionally, acombination of these two methods may be further used to refine locationdata.

Once calculated, the device location can be used for various purposessuch as controlling subsequent movement of the device, issuing an alertto, e.g., an administrator or security system, and/or logging currentand past locations of the device. Of course, a user or an assetassociated with the device may be the item of interest for tracking. Thelocation information may be stored and/or transmitted on a windownetwork and/or an associated antenna network. In some embodiments,antenna and/or controller networks transmit location information to oneor more ancillary systems including but not limited to buildingmanagement systems, lighting systems, security systems, inventorysystems, and safety systems.

FIGS. 15A-D depict geo-fencing examples using multiple antennas(including antennas 1507) around the perimeter of a building floor.Although not depicted, the geo-fencing application may employ additionalantennas located in the interior of the building, such as on wallsbetween adjacent offices, in the ceiling, etc. The participatingantennas are provided on an antenna and/or window controller network.The antennas, the network, and/or associated location logic (forgeo-fencing) are configured to establish regions defined by geo-fencingwhere a particular asset or user is allowed or denied access. Thefigures show a floor plan with virtual boundaries of the regions forparticular geo-fencing applications.

With reference to FIG. 15A, a geo-fencing application defines an allowedregion 1501 that has been configured to allow an asset or user to bepresent and a disallowed region 1502 that has been configured to denyaccess to the asset or user. In the depicted examples, a device 1520moves with the asset or user, and communicates with the antennas 1507while moving. The location logic of the geo-fencing application mayrecord when device 1520 crosses into allowed region 1501 or crosses intodisallowed region 1502. In the depicted embodiment, device 1520 firstmoves from a neutral region across the virtual boundary associated withallowed region 1501. The move is shown by reference numeral 1503. Asdevice 1520 is permitted in region 1501, no alerts or other adverseconsequences occur. Of course, the location logic may log move 1503.Later, device 1520 moves within allowed region 1501 as shown by a move1504. Within region 1501, the logic may monitor the device's movement.

With reference to FIG. 15B, device 1520 moves outside allowed region1501 and crosses the virtual boundary of disallowed region 1502. See themove depicted by numeral 1506. In this case, the location logic detectsand flags or takes other action when device 1520 crosses the virtualboundary to move into disallowed region 1502. In this respect, thelocation logic and/or associated network entities may be configured tosend out alerts when the location logic detects an unauthorized movementof device 1520, which means that the asset or user under considerationhas made an unauthorized move. As an example, a security system may beactivated and/or the user may receive a communication instructinghim/her to return to the allowed region 1501. As depicted in FIG. 15B,device 1520 may also move cross a virtual boundary of region 1501 andenter a neutral region. See the move depicted by reference numeral 1505.In this case, the move has not brought device 1520 into a prohibitedregion, so while the move may be noted and logged, it does not triggeran alert or adverse consequence.

As depicted in FIG. 15C, the boundaries of geo-fences (virtualperimeters) can be modified to allow additional access or reduce accessfor an asset or user. In FIG. 15C, access to the prohibited area 1502 ofFIG. 15B has been altered for device 1520 to provide a new expandedallowed region 1508. As a result, the device movement 1506, which hadbeen problematic in the example of FIG. 15B, is now permissible. Assuggested by this example, the network permissions may be reconfiguredat any time such that an area where access had not been permittedbecomes permissible to an asset or user, or vice versa.

With reference to FIG. 15D, movement between regions may also trigger areconfiguration or a resetting of geo-fenced areas. For instance,movement 1506 from FIG. 15B-C may trigger a new configuration ofpermissible and non-permissible regions (regions 1509 and 1510respectively). Such reconfiguration of permissible and non-permissibleregions may allow for strict enforcement of entrance/exit procedures andadditional security. Thus, as seen in FIG. 15D, a movement 1511 is nolonger permissible as a result of movement 1506, which has triggered areconfiguration of geo-fencing into regions 1509 and 1510. In thisrespect, geo-fences and virtual barriers may be configured to block anasset or user from further movement after an initial virtual boundaryhas been crossed.

In some embodiments, the location logic and associated user software maybe enabled to allow a user to remotely keep track of where devices arelocated on a floorplan or map. In doing so it may be possible to log themovement of assets or users. Location data may be combined with networklogic that determines when an asset or user should or should not bemoving. Vertical movement, e.g., between floors or onto a mezzanine, canalso be tracked.

The ability to quickly identify the location of assets throughout abuilding may be very useful in certain settings. For instance, considera hospital having a window network configured for geo-fencing. In thisexample, assets may include instruments and medical supplies used toprovide time sensitive care such as epinephrine autoinjectors,(EpiPens), defibrillators, emergency cardiac drugs, and the like.Software running on an administrative computer of the entity managingthe assets on window network, and/or a mobile device that receives thelocation of assets within the hospital may be used by medical staff toquickly find the nearest asset that is requested allowing for expeditedmedical treatment. In cases when multiple copies of an asset are needed,such as when a large number of patients requiring similar treatmentarrive at the same time, the use of geo-fencing may reduce the time thatwould otherwise be wasted by medical staff searching for additionalcopies of a needed asset. In some embodiments, location software may beable to identify whether an asset is available for use depending onwhether or not it is in its designated storage location. For example, ifa defibrillator is not in its designated storage location, the locationsoftware may determine that the defibrillator is in use and instructmedical staff to the next nearest defibrillator. In some embodiments,the tagged assets may be mobile, e.g. on a crash cart or othermovable/moving conveyance in a hospital (and/or the crash cart itself istagged with a micro-location chip). The location software may determinethe location of the crash cart, or the nearest crash cart, to enablehospital staff to find the nearest cart and/or the nearest cart havingthe assets that they need in order to address the current emergency.Geo-fencing may also be implemented to improve inventory of consumableassets such as drugs. For example, location software may be configuredto identify a drug (e.g., an emergency cardiac drug) as being consumedonce it has been moved from its stored location, e.g. in a cabinet or acrash cart. In some cases, the location software may further beconfigured to monitor and alert the staff of how long an asset has beenstationary and whether or not an asset has expired or needs amaintenance check. For example, if a drug has a particular shelf life,the medical staff may be notified when the drug nears its expirationdate or if a fire extinguisher has not been moved for a certain periodof time it may require maintenance. By implementing geo-fencingtechniques, a hospital may provide better inventory and access tovarious assets that are critical for patient care. While thisillustrative example pertains to a hospital, there many other settingsin which analogous applications of geo-fencing may be used. Otherexamples include inventory management in. e.g., warehouses; trackingpart supplies for assembly line production, and management of companyassets within a building, e.g. computers, furniture and the like.

Using the sensing technologies described herein (e.g., implementingoccupancy sensors, Bluetooth, RFID, Wi-Fi and/or microlocation chips tosensing), geofencing may be used to locate lost assets and/or detecttheft, e.g. by security personnel. Geofencing using electrochromic glassenhances security and the tracking of assets and people becauseelectrochromic glass represents the skin of a building, the outermostbarrier of the structure, and encompasses the entire interior of thestructure (if installed around the entire façade). Methods describedherein can also detect events exterior to the structure using thetechnologies described herein.

In one embodiment window and/or antenna network and associated locationlogic may be configured to send alerts to the device, administrator,and/or security personnel when a device leaves or enters an area towhich is does not have permission. In doing so it may increase thesecurity of assets such as laptops, tablets, and other valuablesequipped with, e.g., wireless tags.

In one embodiment, software may be installed on mobile device toauthenticate a user's identity to a window and/or antenna network. Inthis way a mobile device is configured to act a digital key for a usernavigating a building. In such examples allowable regions may beadaptable. If, for instance, a user needs access to a particular regionin which they previously have not been permitted, a user may be able tomake a request on a mobile device for approval to enter. With referenceto FIG. 15A, a floor or other building space may initially include anallowable region 1501 and a disallowed region 1502 for a user. Afteraccess to the initially disallowed area has been granted, movement 1506between areas can be made without triggering an alert to the network.Further, adaptable reconfiguration of virtual boundaries may be used forsafety. For example, a workspace with a limited occupant capacity mayinclude a particular region that does not permit additional users oncethe occupant capacity limit is reached. In addition, different assets,devices or people may have different access permissions. For example,someone with high level access permissions may walk freely throughestablished regions which are restricted for others. Put another way,there can be individual regions specifically created for individuals,assets or devices. Embodiments described herein allow great flexibilityin region configurations, accessibility, and granularity with respect toasset, device and/or personnel. And, because windows represent the“skin” of a building, i.e. the exterior boundary, control of interiorregions is realized more effectively.

The application of a window and/or antenna network for geo-fencing mayalso add an additional layer of security over existing security systems.Because the building has many antennas, if one window pane or controllerfails and is unable to communicate with a location device, many otherantennas may still be able to participate in tracking the device withoutrequiring input from the disabled antenna. Use of such redundant systemmay be advantageous over a system comprised of a single security lockwhich may be susceptible to failure.

As explained herein, the window antennas are frequently provided withina network of windows. In such cases, if, for example, a window in acurtain wall on one floor fails, and thus its antenna function fails, apotential “gap” in the geo-fence can be filled by adjacent windows thatstill function, and/or a window or windows from floors above and/orbelow the failed window. In other words, embodiments allow for ageo-fence to “self-heal” if a window stops functioning. When a windowfails, an alert may be sent to the appropriate person, facility and/orcomputer to inform that the window has failed, and/or that action hasbeen taken to reestablish a geo-fence region. This alert may optionallyinclude recommendations to survey or otherwise inspect the affectedgeo-fenced region, e.g., to make sure the window is not physicallybreached.

Another application for geo-fencing selectively allows and disallows theuse of wireless communication in defined rooms or regions of a buildingunder specific conditions. For example, in a meeting where sensitiveinformation is being discussed, a window and/or antenna network may beconfigured to remove wireless access to particular users or to blockwireless communication to devices outside the room. A window and/orantenna network may further be configured to deny devices having cameraswithin certain regions of a facility; although personnel may travelunrestricted into and out of these regions if they are not carryingtheir camera-bearing devices.

One or more antennas, ground planes, etc. may be operated in a way thatblocks electromagnetic communication signals from passing through awindow or other structure containing the antenna(s). In certainembodiments, such shielding features are placed around a room or otherregion of a building where security is required; i.e., where it isdesirable prevent wireless electromagnetic communications from enteringor exiting the region. In some cases, a control system activates anddeactivates the shielding feature according a schedule or as triggeredby defined events such as the entry of particular individuals or assets(and their associated communication devices) into the secure region orinto the vicinity of the secure region. The control system issuesinstructions over a window network, an antenna network, a securitysystem, etc. In some cases, the security is manually set. For example,electrochromic windows may include a metal layer, e.g. as an antennaground plane and/or as part of a conductor layer of an electrochromicdevice. During a communications “lock down” or blockage configurationthe metal layer may be grounded in a zone of windows to effectivelyblock communications (e.g., effectively creating a Faraday cage).

In some instances windows may be configured selectively block certainwavelengths of electromagnetic communication, thus acting as high, low,or bandpass filters. In other words, the shielding can be configured toblock transmission and/or reception of communications in certainfrequency ranges but allow communications in other frequency ranges,which may be deemed sufficiently secure in some contexts. For example,it may be possible to allow communication that is transmitted at 800MHz, while blocking Wi-Fi communication. In some embodiments, thephysical characteristics of the electrochromic device, layer, or filmcoating and/or antenna on the window allows selected bands ofelectromagnetic radiation to pass, be blocked, or otherwise beselectively modulated.

Electromagnetic Shielding

Windows and/or antennas may be configured to provide electromagneticshielding for a structure or building, effectively turning a building,room, or space into a Faraday cage, provided the structure itselfattenuates electromagnetic signals (e.g., the structure is made fromconductive materials such as steel or aluminum or is properly groundedso as to block as a Faraday cage would otherwise). Windows configuredfor shielding may be characterized as sufficiently attenuatingelectromagnetic transmissions across a range of frequencies, for examplebetween 20 MHz and 10,000 MHz. Of course, some applications may allowmore limited or selective attenuation. For example, depending on thestructure of the shield, one or more subranges may be excluded fromattenuation. Windows configured to shield may be used to preventelectromagnetic interference (EMI), allowing for sensitiveelectromagnetic transmissions to be observed in the shielded space, orto block wireless communication and create private spaces in whichoutside devices are prevented from eavesdropping on wirelesstransmissions originating from within the space. For example, in someembodiments, electromagnetic radiation may be attenuated by about 10 dBto 70 dB over selected ranges or about 20 dB to 50 dB over selectedranges.

Windows can be configured for shielding when one or more layers ofelectrically conductive material are made to be coextensive with thesurface of a lite to provide attenuation of electromagnetic radiation.In some cases, the attenuating effect of a window configured forshielding can be increased when electroconductive layers are grounded orheld at a particular voltage to provide attenuation of electromagneticradiation. In some cases, the one or more layers of electricallyconductive material are not connected to ground or an external circuitand have a floating potential. As described herein, attenuating layersmay be meshes having spacings chosen to correspond to the wavelength ofradiation that is sought to be shielded. Electromagnetic shielding forwindow applications has previously been described in, for example, U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,139,850A and 5,147,694A. Embodiments of shieldingconfigurations are made with reference to FIG. 16 .

In various embodiments, the shielding structure includes a sheet ofconductive material spanning the entire area where transmission ofelectromagnetic radiation is to be blocked. For example, the structuremay span the entire area of a lite. In cases where the shieldingstructure is made of an opaque or reflective material (in its bulk form)such as a metal, the structure may be designed to minimize attenuationof visible radiation while still strongly attenuating radiation atlonger wavelengths commonly used in wireless communication. One way tominimize attenuation of visible radiation is to include anti-reflectionlayers next to an electroconductive layer, such as a silver layer.Typically anti-reflection layers, as described herein, will have arefractive index differing from the electroconductive layer they areproximate to. In some embodiments, the thickness and refractive index ofan anti-reflection layer are chosen to produce destructive interferenceof light that is reflected at the layer interface and constructiveinterference of light that is transmitted through the layer interface.

In some embodiments, two or more separate metal layers are employed,along with an interlayer or anti-reflection layer between the metallayers, which together effectively attenuate transmission ofelectromagnetic radiation in frequencies used for wireless communicationwhile transmitting most radiation in the visible region. Multilayerstructures used for electromagnetic shielding containing at least oneelectroconductive layer, at least one antireflective layer, andoptionally an interlayer, will be referred to herein as a shieldingstack. Examples of the separation distance and thickness of suchmultilayer structures are presented below.

Certain examples of shielding stacks are shown in FIG. 16 as sections1610 and 1611, each having at least one electroconductive layer 1602 andat least two anti-reflection layers 1601, straddling layer 1602. In thecase of shielding stack 1611, an interlayer region 1603 separates twoelectroconductive layers. A shielding stack may be placed on any surface(or interior region) of a substrate, such as S1, S2, S3, S4, or anysurface of an electrochromic device, a dielectric layer, or a layercontaining a window antenna structure. When the shielding stack isprovided on an electrochromic device or an antenna layer, the lite mayinclude an insulating layer separating the shielding stack and thedevice or antenna. In certain embodiments, the shielding stack isprovided on surfaces S2 of lite 204 and/or S3 of lite 206.

In some embodiments a shielding stack may comprise of two or moreelectroconductive layers, 1602, where each electroconductive layer issandwiched by an anti-refection layer, 1601. FIG. 20 depicts examples ofa shielding stack including two electroconductive layers 2012 and ashielding stack including three electroconductive layers 2013. In someembodiments, four or more electroconductive layers may be used in asingle shielding stack.

IGU structures compatible with a shielding stack include, but are notlimited to, any of the IGU structures depicted in FIGS. 2A-5B. Ingeneral, a shielding stack can be disposed at any location where aground plane is described herein. In fact, a shielding stack can alsoserve as a ground plane for window antennas described herein. In certainembodiments a shielding stack and an electrochromic device stack mayshare certain layers; i.e. it is a multifunctional stack, including atleast two functions selected from an electrochromic device, a shieldingstack, and an antenna.

In some embodiments, the shielding stack is disposed on the mate lite (asecond or additional lite in an IGU, e.g., other than the electrochromiclite) of an electrochromic IGU or as a mate lite in a laminate where onelite includes an electrochromic device coating and the other lite of thelaminate has a shielding stack for blocking electromagnetic radiation ornot, selectively, e.g. by grounding the shielding stack's metal layer(s)with a switch. This function may be incorporated into the controller ofan electrochromic device. The construct may or may not have antennae asdescribed herein. One embodiment is an electrochromic window includingone lite with an electrochromic device coating and another lite with ashielding stack as described herein. In one embodiment the shieldingstack is selectively controlled to shield, or not, with a groundingfunction. The grounding function may be controlled by a windowcontroller that also controls the electrochromic device's switchingfunction. In these embodiments, where the shielding stack and theelectrochromic device stack are on different substrates, the window maytake the form of an IGU, a laminate, or a combination thereof, e.g. anIGU where one or both lites of the IGU is a laminate. In one example alaminate lite of the IGU includes the shielding stack, while anon-laminate lite of the IGU includes the electrochromic device coating.In another embodiment, both lites of the IGU are laminates, where onelaminate lite includes a shielding stack and the other laminate liteincludes an electrochromic device coating. In yet other embodiments, asingle laminate includes both an electrochromic device coating and ashielding stack. The laminate may itself be a lite of an IGU or not.

In yet another embodiment, a shielding stack is incorporated into aflexible film, hereinafter referred to as a shielding film, which may beadhered to or otherwise mounted to a window. For example, an IGU may beconfigured for electromagnetic shielding by attaching a shielding filmto surface S1 or S4 of an IGU lite. Alternatively, during the assemblyof an IGU, a window may be configured for shielding by attaching ashielding film to surface S2 or S3 of an IGU lite. A shielding film mayalso be embedded in a laminate and used as a mate lite for anelectrochromic IGU as described herein. For example, an IGU can beconstructed so that S2 has an electrochromic film, and the mate lite forthe IGU is a laminate having inside the two lites making up thelaminate, a shielding film.

Shielding films may block RF, IR and/or UV signals, for example,commercially available films such as SD2500/SD2510, SD 1000/SD 1010 andDAS Shield™ films, sold by Signals Defense, of Owings Mills, Md. may besuitable for embodiments described herein.

FIG. 21 depicts one embodiment of a shielding film 2100 that may bemounted onto the surface of a lite to provide electromagnetic shielding.A first film layer 2101 is used as substrate on which a shielding stack2102 may be deposited or formed. A laminate adhesive layer 2103 is thenused to bond the shielding stack to a second film layer 2104,encapsulating the shielding stack 2101 within a flexible film. Amounting adhesive layer 2105 may then be used to bond the shielding filmstructure to a surface of a lite. In some embodiments, an additionalprotective layer may be located on surface 2110. Protective layers varyupon the widow environment and may include materials such as epoxy,resin, or any natural or synthetic material that provides adequateprotection to of the shielding film structure. In some embodiments, thefilm structure 2100 may differ from the illustrative embodiment depictedin FIG. 21 . For example, in some embodiments a mounting adhesive layermay bond a shielding stack 2102 directly to a window surface, thuseliminating the need for the laminate layer 2103 and the second filmlayer 2104. In certain embodiments, the total thickness of the shieldingfilm, when mounted on a lite, is between about 25 and 1000 μm.

Many materials may be suitable for film layers 2101 and 2104, laminatingadhesive layers 2103, and mounting adhesive layers 2104. Typicallymaterials chosen should be transparent to visible light and havesufficiently low haze so the optical properties of a lite are notsubstantially diminished. In certain embodiments, film layers are lessthan about 300 μm thick (e.g., between about 10 μm and 275 μm thick) andare made from a thermoplastic polymer resin. Examples of film materialsinclude polyethylene terephthalate, polycarbonate, polyethylenenaphthalate. One of skill in the art may select from a variety ofacceptable adhesive layers and mounting adhesive layers. Depending onthe thickness of a shielding stack, the placement of the film within anIGU unit, or the optical properties desired from a window configured forelectromagnetic shielding, different adhesives may be used. In someembodiments a mounting adhesive layer 2104 may be made from a pressuresensitive adhesive such as National Starch 80-1057 available fromIngredion Inc. Examples of other suitable adhesives include Adcote 76R36with catalyst 9H1H, available from Rohm & Haas and Adcote 89r3 availablefrom Rohm & Haas. When a shielding film is transported prior toinstallation on a glass window, a release film layer may be located onsurface 2111. A release film layer may protect the mounting adhesivelayer 2105 until the time of installation when the release film isremoved.

The electroconductive layer 1601 may be made from any of a number ofconductive materials such as silver, copper, gold, nickel, aluminum,chromium, platinum, and mixtures, intermetallics and alloys thereof. Anincreased thickness of an electroconductive layer results in a lowersheet resistance and typically a greater attenuating effect, however, anincreased thickness also increases the material cost and may lower thevisible light transmissivity.

In some embodiments, an electroconductive layer such as used inshielding stack 2102 may be made of or include a “metal sandwich”construction of two or more different metal sublayers. For example, ametal layer may include a “metal sandwich” construction such as oneincluding Cu/Ag/Cu sublayers instead of a single layer of, for example,Cu. In another example, an electroconductive layer may include a “metalsandwich” construction of NiCr/metal/NiCr, where the metal sublayer isone of the aforementioned metals.

In some embodiments, such as when a shielding stack is located adjacentto an electrochromic device, an electroconductive layer or sublayer ismetal alloy. Electromigration resistance of metals can be increasedthrough alloying. Increasing the electromigration resistance of metallayers in a metal electroconductive layer reduces the tendency of themetal to migrate into the electrochromic stack and potentially interferewith operation of the device. By using a metal alloy, the migration ofmetal into the electrochromic stack can be slowed and/or reduced whichcan improve the durability of the electrochromic device. For example,the addition of small amounts of Cu or Pd to silver can substantiallyincrease the electromigration resistance of silver. In one embodiment,for example, a silver alloy with Cu or Pd is used in anelectroconductive layer to reduce the tendency of migration of silverinto the electrochromic stack to slow down or prevent such migrationfrom interfering with normal device operation. In some cases,electroconductive sublayers may include an alloy whose oxides have lowresistivity. In one example, the metal layer or sublayer may furthercomprise another material (e.g., Hg, Ge, Sn, Pb, As, Sb, or Bi) ascompound during the preparation of the oxide to increase density and/orlower resistivity.

In some embodiments, the one or more metal sublayers of a compositeelectroconductive layer are transparent. Typically, a transparent metallayer is less than 10 nm thick, for example, about 5 nm thick or less.In other embodiments, the one or more metal layers of a compositeconductor are opaque or not entirely transparent.

In some cases, anti-reflection layers are placed on either side of aconductive layer to enhance light transmission through coated glasssubstrate having the shielding stack. Typically, anti-reflection layersare a dielectric or metal oxide material. Examples of anti-reflectionlayers include indium tin oxide (ITO), In₂O₃, TiO₂, Nb₂O₅, Ta₂O₅, SnO₂,ZnO or Bi₂O₃. In certain embodiments, an anti-reflection layer is a tinoxide layer having a thickness in the range of between about 15 to 80nm, or between about 30 to 50 nm. In general, the thickness of theanti-reflection layer is dependent on the thickness of the conductivelayer.

In certain embodiments, an anti-reflection layer is a layer of materialof “opposing susceptibility to an adjacent electroconductive metallayer. A material of opposing susceptibility generally refers to amaterial that has an electric susceptibility to having an opposing sign.Electric susceptibility of a material refers to its ability to polarizein an applied electric field. The greater the susceptibility, thegreater the ability of the material to polarize in response to theelectric field. Including a layer of “opposing susceptibility” canchange the wavelength absorption characteristics to increase thetransparency of the electroconductive layer and/or shift the wavelengthtransmitted through the combined layers. For example, anelectroconductive layer can include a high-index dielectric materiallayer (e.g., TiO₂) of “opposing susceptibility” adjacent to a metallayer to increase the transparency of the metal layer. In some cases,the added layer of opposing susceptibility” adjacent a metal layer cancause a not entirely transparent metal layer to be more transparent. Forexample, a metal layer (e.g., silver layer) that has a thickness in therange of from about 5 nm to about 30 nm, or between about 10 nm andabout 25 nm, or between about 15 nm and about 25 nm, may not be entirelytransparent by itself, but located next to an anti-reflection layer of“opposing susceptibility” (e.g., TiO₂ layer on top of the silver layer),the transmission through the combined layers is higher than the metal ordielectric layer alone.

In certain embodiments, a composite electroconductive layer may includeone or more metal layers and one more “color tuning” sublayers alsoreferred to as “index matching” sublayers, in some embodiments. Thesecolor tuning layers are generally of a high-index, low-loss dielectricmaterial of “opposing susceptibility” to the one or more metal layers.Some examples of materials that can be used in “color tuning” layersinclude silicon oxide, tin oxide, indium tin oxide, and the like. Inthese embodiments, the thickness and/or material used in the one or morecolor tuning layers changes the absorption characteristics to shift thewavelength transmitted through the combination of the material layers.For example, the thickness of the one or more color tuning layers can beselected to tune the color of light transmitted through the shieldingstack. In another example, tuning layers are chosen and configured toreduce transmission of certain wavelengths (e.g., yellow) through theshielding stack, and thus e.g. a window configured for electromagneticshielding.

In one embodiment, shielding stack 1610 includes a single layer ofsilver (or other conductive material) that has a thickness of about 15to 60 nm. A thickness greater than about 15 nm of silver ensures that alow sheet resistance, e.g., less than 5 ohms per square, will beachieved. In certain embodiments, a single electroconductive silverlayer will be between about 20 and 30 nm thick and thus allow sufficientadsorption of electromagnetic radiation in communications frequencieswhile maintaining a sufficiently high light transmissivity. In thisembodiment a silver layer may be electrically coupled to ground eitherby physical connection (e.g., a bus bar), or by capacitive couplingbetween the electroconductive layer and a metal frame that at leastpartially overlaps the electroconductive layer.

In another embodiment, shielding stack 1611 includes two layers ofsilver (or other electroconductive material), each having a thickness ofabout 7 to 30 nm. It has been found that shielding panels having areduced light reflection can be produced for a given attenuationcompared to when a single, but thicker, silver layer is used. Oneelectroconductive layer may be electrically coupled to ground either byphysical connection (e.g., a bus bar), or by capacitive coupling betweenthe electroconductive layer and a grounded metal frame that at leastpartially overlaps the electroconductive layer. The secondelectroconductive layer may be capacitively coupled to the firstgrounded electroconductive layer, thus connecting the secondelectroconductive layer to ground. In some embodiments, both the firstand second electroconductive layers are physically connected to ground.In some embodiments both electroconductive layers have floatingpotentials (i.e., they are not electrically connected to ground or asource of defined potential). Most attenuation in this embodiment can beattributed to the reflection of electromagnetic radiation at the firstelectroconductive layer. Further attenuation occurs as a result ofabsorption in the interlayer region between the electroconductive layers(or their proximate antireflective layers) as the path length ofincoming waves is greatly increased due reflections between theelectroconductive layers, resulting in significant absorption ofradiation reflecting within the interlayer.

In another embodiment, a shielding stack such as stack 2012 or stack2013 includes silver electroconductive layers that have a floatingelectric potential, where each silver layer has a thickness of about 10nm-20 nm. Anti-reflection layers, which may be made of indium tin oxide,may have a thickness of about 30 nm to 40 nm when adjacent to one silverlayer and a thickness of about 75 nm-85 nm when interposed between twosilver layers.

Interlayers may be made from materials that are transparent to shortwave electromagnetic radiation in the visible spectrum while absorbingfrequencies having longer wavelengths that are used for communication.An interlayer may be a single layer or be a composite comprising ofseveral material layers. If an electrochromic window is fabricatedwithout an insulated gas layer, or if an IGU includes an additional litedisposed between lites 206 and 208, a cast-in-place resin such aspolyvinylbutyral (“PVB”) or polyurethane may be used as an interlayer tolaminate two panes together, each having an electroconductive layerthereon. In other embodiments, a single lite may be composed of two ormore thin glass (or plastic) sheets laminated using an interlayer resin.In certain embodiments when a resin such as PVB is used, the thicknessof an interlayer is in the range of about 0.25 mm to 1.5 mm.

In yet another embodiment, the outer surface of a one substrate (e.g.,S1 or S4), is coated with a transparent abrasion-resistant coatingincluding an electroconductive semiconductor metal oxide layer, whichmay serve the purpose of a shielding stack or a portion thereof. In thedepicted embodiment, the lite also includes a shielding stack 1610having a single layer of silver (or other conductive material) with athickness of, e.g., between about 15 and 50 nm placed on one of theinterior surfaces of the glass (e.g., S3 or S4), such as a surface nothaving an electrochromic stack or a window antenna. Optionally, aninterlayer may be placed at any location between the metal oxide layerand the shielding stack to increase absorption of waves reflectingbetween the two electroconductive layers. In some instances the metaloxide layer and the shielding stack are placed on opposite lites of anIGU such that there is a gap between the metal oxide layer and theshielding stack. As examples, abrasion resistant coatings may be madefrom metal oxides such as tin doped indium oxide, doped tin oxide,antimony oxide, and the like. In this embodiment, the electroconductivelayer and the abrasion resistant coating are electrically coupled toground, either by physical connection (e.g., a bus bar), or by, e.g.,capacitive coupling between the electroconductive layer and a metalframe that at least partially overlaps the layer.

When a shielding stack having a single electroconductive layer (e.g.,1610) is used in combination with a semiconductor metal oxide layer, orwhen a shielding stack having two electroconductive layers is used(e.g., 1611), the spacing between electrically conducting layersrequired to achieve a desired attenuation effect may depend on thecomposition (e.g., glass, air, gas, or EC device layers) and thicknessof the layers that lie between the two electroconductive layers.

Layers described for electromagnetic shielding may be fabricated using avariety of deposition processes including those used for fabricatingelectrochromic devices. In some instances, the steps used for depositinga shielding stack may be integrated into the fabrication process stepsfor depositing an electrochromic device. In general, a shielding stackor an abrasion-resistant coating that is a semiconductor metal oxide maybe deposited by physical and/or chemical vapor techniques onto substrate204 or 206 at any step in the fabrication process. Individual layers ofa shielding stack (1601, 1602, and 1603) are often well suited for beingdeposited by a physical vapor deposition technique such sputtering. Insome cases, a silver (or other metal) layer is deposited by a techniquesuch as cold spraying or even a liquid based process such as coatingwith a metal ink. In cases where a resin material such as PVB is used,the interlayer may be formed through a lamination process in which twosubstrates (optionally having one or more layers thereon) are joinedtogether.

Wireless Communications

Window networks may be wired or wireless. For wireless window networks,antennas transmit and receive the communications regarding window tintstates, faults, usage patterns, etc. Window antennas such as thosedescribed herein may be used to transmit and receive the necessarycommunications. Examples of wireless window network designs arepresented in View, Incorporated's U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 62/085,179, filed Nov. 24, 2014, which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. In certain embodiments, wireless windownetworks are provided in contexts where power for controlling windows isprovided locally, rather than from a central building power source. Forexample, where the window power comes from photovoltaic sourcesreceiving light through skylights or other local locations, or even fromphotovoltaic sources disposed on the windows, the communications networkcan be decoupled from the infrastructure of the power distributionnetwork. In such cases, it becomes cost-effective to use a wirelesscommunications network.

Commissioning and Site Monitoring

The commissioning process (automated or not) for windows or IGUs (IGUwill be used to refer to both in this context) may involve reading andtransmitting an ID for the IGU and/or its associated window controller.Further information related to commissioning/configuring a network ofelectrochromic windows is presented in U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/391,122, filed Oct. 7, 2014, and titled “APPLICATIONS FOR CONTROLLINGOPTICALLY SWITCHABLE DEVICES,” which is herein incorporated by referencein its entirety.

In some cases, communication with an antenna associated with an IGU tobe configured is used to identify the IGU. This information is sharedover the network, for example to a network controller and/or to otherwindow controllers. This identification process may be one step ingenerating a map or other directory of all the electrochromic windows onthe network, as discussed below. In various embodiments, the IGUidentification/configuration process may involve individually triggeringor detecting each IGU controller to cause the IGU's associatedcontroller to send a signal to the network. The signal may include theIGU's identification number and/or the identification number of thecontroller associated with the IGU. For example, an installer(s) willinstall IGUs in their physical location in a building. The IGUs willhave the chip or memory which contains the IGU's ID and certain physicalcharacteristics/parameters of the IGU etc.

The triggering may occur through a variety of mechanisms. In oneexample, some or all of the IGUs to be commissioned include an antennaassociated antenna logic configured to trigger the IGU to send its IDwhen the antenna receives a communication from a user's mobile device orother user communication device in the vicinity of the IGU. The user canturn the communication device to a commissioning mode whereby ittransmits triggering signals to the window antennas in reception range(e.g., all the IGUs in a room visited by the user). Because the user ora commissioning application associated with the user's mobile deviceknows where the mobile device is located, the IGUs within receptionrange can be associated with their physical locations. In someembodiments, the user may enter the location of the mobile device when acommunication with the IGUs' window antennas occurs. This also allowsthe IGUs within reception range to be associated with their physicallocations.

In one example, a network of electrochromic windows includes 10 windows,with two windows provided in each of five rooms. After the IGUs arephysically installed, a user/installer may commission the windows toidentify each IGU and associate it with its physical location in thenetwork. The installer may use an electronic device such as a phone,tablet, computer, etc. to help commission the windows. A program on theelectronic device (or accessible by the device) may include a list,directory, and/or map of all the electrochromic windows on the network.When the installer enters the first room, she can trigger the firstelectrochromic window by walking close to it, thereby causing theassociated window/antenna controller to send a signal over the networkwith the window's (and/or controller's) identification. As a result ofthis signal, the identification for the triggered window may appear onthe electronic device. The user can then associate the identificationwith the physical location of the window they triggered. In one examplewhere the program on the electronic device generates (or otherwiseutilizes) a map of the windows, this association may be made in agraphical user interface (GUI), e.g., by dragging the triggeredidentification number onto the map at the appropriate location, or byclicking the map at the appropriate location in response to thetriggered identification appearing. After the first window is associatedwith its physical location, the installer can trigger the second windowin the first room by walking close to it (or otherwise directing atransmission to its antenna) and thereby associate the identification ofthe second IGU/controller with its physical location. This process canthen be repeated for each of the other rooms in which electrochromicwindows are installed. In some cases, it is sufficient to merelyidentify the rooms or general vicinities of multiple IGUs. In suchcases, the transmission of an electromagnetic signal from the user'sdevice may be received simultaneously by multiple IGUs in the vicinity.Each of them can transmit its respective ID to the commissioning programto thereby determine the general location of the IGUs. In some cases,the user moves from one room to the next or one region to another, withthe user's location being known or determined during the movement.Individual IGUs may respond multiple times while in transmission rangeof the user. In this way, individual IGUs can be disambiguated eventhough multiple of them may respond concurrently to a transmissionsignal from the user's device.

In another example, each electrochromic IGU may include a beacon thattransmits information related to the IGU, for example the identificationof the IGU and/or the associated controller. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)beacons may be used in some cases. An installer may have a receiver toallow them to read the beacon. Phones and other electronic devicescommonly have Bluetooth receivers that can be used for this purpose. Anyappropriate receiver may be used. An installer may read the informationon the beacons during commissioning to associate the identification foreach IGU/controller with the physical location of the IGU. A map ordirectory may be used to accomplish this association.

In a similar embodiment, each IGU may be triggered over the network,which may cause a component on the IGU to notify an installer/user thatit has been triggered. In one example, each IGU is configured totransmit a particular commissioning signal (e.g., a particularfrequency, pulse train, etc.) from its window antenna. A signal can besent over the network to trigger a relevant IGU or window controller,which triggers the IGU to transmit its commissioning signal. A user'sdevice can then identify the relevant IGU by receiving the IGU-specificsignal. Based on this process and information, the installer/user canassociate each IGU/controller with its physical location andidentification.

FIG. 14A is a flowchart depicting a method 1400 of commissioning anetwork of electrochromic windows according to certain embodiments. Forexample, after all the IGUs have an associated controller, at operation1402, a list of all the window controller IDs is created. This step isexplained further below with reference to FIGS. 14C-14E. The windowcontroller IDs may include a number of individual identifying factorsabout each window. This information is stored, e.g., in a chip in eachwindow assembly, e.g., in a dock (or wiring harness). In one example,the window ID includes a CAN ID and a LITE ID. The CAN ID may relate toa unique address of the window/window controller on the CAN bus system,while the LITE ID may relate to a unique serial number of theelectrochromic IGU and/or its associated window controller. The LITE ID(or other ID used) may also include information about the window such asits size, properties of the electrochromic device, parameters to be usedwhen transitioning the electrochromic device, etc. After the list ofwindow controllers is generated, an individual window controller istriggered in operation 1404. The triggering may occur through any of themethods described herein. This trigger causes the relevant windowcontroller to send a signal with the window controller's ID. Inresponse, a user or a program that accesses IGU transmitted data over anetwork can associate the triggered window controller's ID with thewindow's physical location in operation 1406. Operations 1404 and 1406are further explained in the context of FIGS. 14F and 14G. At operation1420, it is determined whether there are additional windows tocommission. If there are additional windows to commission, the methodrepeats from operation 1404. The method is complete when all of thewindows are commissioned.

FIG. 14B presents a representation of the physical location of fiveelectrochromic windows installed on an East wall of a building. The “LOCID” refers to the location of the relevant window, in this case labeled,arbitrarily, East1-East5. Additional electrochromic windows may beprovided elsewhere in the building. The method of FIG. 14A, for exampleas explained in relation to FIGS. 14C-14G, may be performed on the setof windows shown in FIG. 14B.

FIG. 14C illustrates certain steps that may be taken during operation1404 of FIG. 14A. In this example, the network of electrochromic windowsincludes a master controller (MC), two or more network controllers(NC₁-NC_(n)), and several window controllers (WC₁-WC_(m)). For the sakeof clarity, only information relevant to window controllers that operateunder the first network controller (NC₁) is shown. The dotted linesindicate that many other network controllers and window controllers maybe present. First, a user may initiate a command, via a userapplication/program/etc., to cause the window controllers to bediscovered. The user application/program forwards this command to themaster controller. The master controller directs the network controllersto discover the window controllers, and the network controllers directthe window controllers to identify themselves. In response, the windowcontrollers report their IDs to the network controllers, which thenreport the window controller IDs to the master controller, which reportsthe window controller IDs to the user application/program. The mastercontroller and/or the user application/program may aggregate thisinformation to create the list of all window controllers. This list mayinclude information detailing which window controllers are controlled byeach network controller. The list may also be provided as a chart thatshows the configuration of all the relevant controllers on the network,as shown in FIG. 14D. The network representation shown in FIG. 14D mayappear on the graphical user interface in some cases.

FIG. 14E depicts an example of user interface features that may bepresented to a user after operation 1404 is complete and the list ofwindow controller IDs is created. On the upper portion of FIG. 14E, amap of the relevant windows is shown. This map may be created by anymeans available, and in some cases may be specifically programmed foreach installation. After operation 1404, it is still not known whereeach window is positioned. Thus, the map does not yet show the CAN ID orLITE ID for any of the windows, but rather has empty fields that will bepopulated with this information during the commissioning process. On thebottom portion of FIG. 14E, a list of the window controller IDs isprovided. After operation 1404, all of the window IDs (the CAN IDs andLITE IDs) are generally known, but they have not yet been associatedwith their physical positions (the LOC IDs). For this reason, the bottomportion of FIG. 14E shows the CAN IDs and LITE IDs as populated, whilethe LOC IDs are still blank. A similar list may be provided for each ofthe different network controllers.

FIG. 14F is a flowchart that presents a method for performing operations1404 and 1406 from FIG. 14A in more detail, according to one embodiment.In FIG. 14F, the method begins at operation 1404, where a user triggersa window controller (by, e.g., directing an EM transmission toward theIGU's window antenna), thereby causing it to send the window controllerID to its associated network controller. The network controller receivesthe signal with the window controller ID, and sends the windowcontroller ID to the master controller at operation 1410. Next, atoperation 1412, the master controller receives the signal with thewindow controller ID, and sends the window controller ID to a userapplication/program/etc. At operation 1414, the user application/programdisplays the window controller ID for the triggered window. Next, atoperation 1418, the user may associate the window ID of the triggeredwindow with the physical location of the window that was triggered. Inone example, the user drags the window ID displayed in operation 1414onto the physical location of the triggered window as represented on themap of windows. With reference to FIG. 14E, for instance, a particularwindow ID (e.g., CAN ID and LITE ID) may become bold or otherwisenoticeable in the user application/program in response to the windowcontroller being triggered. The user can see the bolded window ID, thendrag it onto the map at an appropriate location. Conversely, the usermay drag the relevant window from the map onto the triggered window ID.Similarly, a user may click on the triggered window ID and click on therelevant window from the map to associate the two. Various methods maybe used.

FIG. 14G depicts an example graphical user interface similar to the oneshown in FIG. 14E, after the window positioned at East5 has beenidentified and associated with its relevant window ID/location. As shownin FIG. 14B, the window at East5 has WC₁ installed thereon. Therefore,the CAN ID for WC₁ (XXXX1) and the LITE ID for WC₁ (YYYY1) are displayedbelow the window at the East5 location. Similarly, as shown in thebottom portion of FIG. 14G, the list of window controller IDs nowincludes a LOC ID for WC₁. The triggering and location/ID associationsteps can be repeated until all of the windows are identified andassociated with their positions within the building. The fact that WC₁was triggered first was chosen merely for the sake of clarity in thefigures. The window controllers can be triggered in any order.

Returning to FIG. 14F, at operation 1420 it is determined whether thereare any additional windows to commission. If not, the method iscomplete. If there are additional windows to commission, the methodrepeats on a different window starting at operation 1404.

Conventional antennas sometimes require adjusting or tuning based onchanging environmental conditions which include seasonal variations infoliage, new buildings in a city or residential environment, weatherpatterns, etc. Such adjustments modify antenna radiation patterns toaccount for changing conditions. Additionally, when multiple antennasradiate to the same region, null regions can occur. Careful tuning ofthe antennas is required to get rid of nulls.

With conventional antennas, adjustments are made by physically changingthe position and/or orientation of installed antennas. Window antennasas described herein allow adjusting or tuning the emitted radiationpattern through commands from a window controller or control systemproviding appropriate instructions for selecting and powering windows toaddress current requirements and environmental conditions. Sometimes, acontroller selects which antennas to power and thereby defines aparticular pattern or array of active antennas. In another approach, thecontroller varies the frequency, power, polarization, or other propertyof the electrical signal powering the transmission antenna.

Such tuning may tie to an electrochromic window commissioning procedure.In some approaches, when an installer sets up its electrochromicwindows, it commissions them to set optical switching parameters. Whenthe electrochromic windows include antennas as disclosed, thecommissioning can account for the selection and/or poweringcharacteristics for individual antennas in the windows of the buildingbeing commissioned. Calibrating and/or tuning the antennas that are partof the windows serves as part of commissioning. In addition, monitoringor periodic commissioning can be performed to account for changingenvironmental conditions which may have a strong impact on thetransmission characteristics of the antennas in a structure.Commissioning and monitoring of buildings containing electrochromicwindows is further described in International Patent Application No.PCT/US13/36456, filed Apr. 12, 2013, and U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 61/974,677, filed Apr. 3, 2014, each of which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These applicationsdescribe setting and/or adjusting switchable optical window controllersettings such as drive voltages to cause optical switching based onlocal conditions determined at installation and/or during a laterevaluation.

In some cases, a building or multiple buildings with antennas interactwith each other and/or with a conventional transmission antenna, wherethe antennas transmit signal in the same or overlapping frequency bands.In this example, at least one of these multiple buildings transmitsradiation from antennas on windows of a building. The other building orbuildings may transmit through windows or more conventional cell towerstructures.

Non-Window Network Applications

As is apparent from the foregoing description, antennas can be designed,assembled and otherwise configured to have a variety of uses dependingon the application of the particular antenna. In some applications, oneor more of the antennas described above can be configured for use in arepeater or “signal booster” system. In one example repeaterimplementation, an IGU 202 includes one or more first antennas and oneor more second antennas. The first antennas can be configured to receivea signal from an exterior environment external to a building (or roomwithin a building). For example, the received signal can be a cellular,wireless wide area network (WWAN), wireless local area network (WLAN),or wireless personal area network (WPAN) signal transmitted from a basestation, cellular or other broadcast tower, satellite or wireless accesspoint or “hotspot.” The second antennas can be configured to transmit asignal into an interior environment internal to the building (or roomwithin a building). For example, the transmitted signal can be acellular, WLAN, or WPAN signal. In some such implementations, thecontroller for the antenna (whether within a window tint-statecontroller or in a separate antenna controller) can include an amplifiercircuit or stage as well as one or more passive or active hardware orsoftware filtering components or circuits such as analog filters ordigital filters. In some such implementations, the transmitted signal isan amplified version of the received signal. Additionally, the receivedsignal can be filtered and subject to various signal processingtechniques and processes prior to amplification such that any noise orother unwanted signal components are not amplified in the transmittedsignal (or at least not to the extent that the desired frequencycomponents are amplified in the transmitted signal). It will beappreciated that signals received from an interior environment also canbe processed and amplified for transmission to an exterior environment.

In some applications, one or more of the antennas described above can beconfigured for use in a protocol converter system. In one exampleconverter implementation, an IGU 202 includes one or more first antennasand one or more second antennas. The first antennas can be configured toreceive a signal from an exterior environment according to a firstwireless protocol, such as a cellular, WWAN, wireless local area networkWLAN, or wireless personal area network WPAN signal transmitted from abase station, cellular or other broadcast tower, satellite or wirelessaccess point or hotspot. The second antennas can be configured totransmit a signal into an interior environment internal to the buildingaccording to a second wireless protocol. For example, the transmittedsignal can be a cellular, WLAN, or WPAN signal. In some suchimplementations, the controller for the antenna (whether within a windowtint-state controller or in a separate antenna controller) can include aconverter circuit or stage for converting the received signal from thefirst wireless protocol to the second wireless protocol beforetransmission over the second antennas. The controller also can includean amplifier for amplified the converted signal before transmission. Forexample, a cellular signal can be received from the externalenvironment, converted into a Wi-Fi signal, and then transmitted intothe interior environment. It will be appreciated that signals receivedfrom an interior environment also can be converted for transmission toan exterior environment.

In some applications, one or more antennas can be configured to receivebroadcast television signals whether from a broadcast tower or from asatellite, for example. In some such applications, the receivedtelevision signal can then be rebroadcast into the room in the same or adifferent protocol for reception by a set-top box or a televisionitself. Similarly, one or more antennas can be configured to receivedradio signals whether from a broadcast tower or from a satellite, forexample. In some such applications, the received radio signal can thenbe rebroadcast into the room in the same or a different protocol forreception by a radio, stereo system, computer, television or satelliteradio.

In some applications, multiple antennas can serve as broadcaster ofcellular, television or other broadcast signals. In one such example,some or all of the antennas within some or all of the windows of a largebuilding can be configured to server as a GSM or DCS cellular broadcasttower for a base station. Such implementations can eliminate the use oftraditional broadcast towers.

In some applications, groupings or zones of one or more antennas canserve as WLAN or WPAN base stations, access points or hotspots. Forexample, a grouping of antennas as described above can function as afemtocell (such as for 4G and 5G cellular) or a picocell. In some suchimplementations, a controller or controllers for the grouping ofantennas can connect to a service provider's network via broadband (suchas DSL or cable). A femtocell allows service providers to extend servicecoverage indoors or at the “cell edge,” where access may be limited orunavailable due to infrastructure limitations or attenuation (such as bymaterials of a building or by other buildings blocking desired signals).

In some applications, one or more of the antennas described above can beutilized for cloaking. For example, one or more antennas within a windowor within a multitude of windows of a building can be configured toradiate back a field that cancels reflections from an object such asanother structure of the same building, other buildings or otherstructures external to a building.

In some applications, one or more of the antennas described above can beused in a microphone system. For example, an IGU can include one or moreacoustic-to-electric transducers or arrays of such transducers on asurface of a lite. For example, the transducers can be electromagnetictransducers (such as MEMS microphone transducers) that convert acousticsignals into electrical signals that can then be received and processedby the window controller or a separate controller. For example, in aspeaker-phone implementation, the transducers can pick up acousticsignals from one or more occupants of an adjoining room and convert theacoustic signals to electrical signals for signal processing by thecontroller. In some implementations, the unprocessed or processedelectrical signals can be wirelessly sent to a device that interfaceswith a phone system for transmission to third parties on a conferencecall, for example. Additionally, in some implementations,electromagnetic transducers can detect acoustic signals from backgroundnoise, such as noise from an exterior environment outside of a room(whether outdoors or indoors, for example, in a hallway or adjacentroom). The electrical signals from the noise can then be processed bythe controller or a separate device to remove frequency componentsassociated with the noise from the frequency components associated withthe voices from the occupants within the room. In some otherimplementations, a user within a building can wear a microphone, such asa wireless headset, that converts audio signals to electrical signalsthat are then broadcast and subsequently sensed by antennas withinnearby windows. Such an implementation would enable the user toparticipate on a conference call without the use of a phone even as theuser moves throughout one or more rooms or hallways of a building. Forexample, the user also can wear headphones or other audio earpieces thatwould receive electrical signals transmitted from antennas in variousnearby windows and convert these received electrical signals into audiosignals representative of the voices of other users on a conferencecall. Such received electrical signals can be received through the phonesystem and subsequently received via wired or wireless connection by thecontrollers and antennas in the various nearby windows.

In some implementations, one or more antennas within one or more windowsalso can be configured to transmit signals to various speakers within aroom. In some implementations, one or more antennas within one or morewindows also can be configured to wirelessly power various speakerswithin a room. In some implementations, one or more antennas within oneor more windows also can be configured to wirelessly power variouslighting equipment within a room. For example, such implementations canprovide an “electrodeless lamp,” for example, one or more fluorescenttubes in or in proximity to an IGU or other window structure whichproduce light when excited by radio frequency emissions transmitted fromthe antennas.

In some applications, one or more antennas in one or more windows can beconfigured to transmit and receive radio waves to determine the range,angle, or velocity of objects exterior to and/or interior to the room orbuilding. More specifically, the antennas can transmit radio waves ormicrowaves that reflect from any object in their path. The same ordifferent antennas within the windows receive and process thesereflected waves to determine properties of the object(s). For example,such a radar implementation can be used for mapping exterior or interiorenvironments. This mapping information can be used to better directantennas to better receive signals of interest or to better focustransmitted signals to a target (such as a typical base station but alsoto other buildings, which may themselves be configured as base stationsusing this antenna technology). Such radar implementations also can beadvantageous for security applications. For example, such radarimplementations can detect the presence, proximity and even movement ofan intruder/trespasser. Indeed, multiple antennas in multiple windowsarranged around a building can work in concert to track the trespasser'smovements around a building.

Radar implementations also can be configured to detect weather. Forexample, the Doppler effect is already used by weather stations todetect, classify and predict weather. Such weather information can beuseful as another input to a master controller or network controller todetermine tint states as well as to trigger changes in other systemsincluding lighting, HVAC and even alarm systems.

Antennas on or within window also can be used in other identification,personalization, authorization or security applications. For example,antennas within a room can be used to detect signals from RFID tags,Bluetooth transmitters, or other transmitters worn or otherwise carriedby occupants of a room to determine the identities of the occupants, aswell as to determine authorizations, permissions, or security clearancesassociated with those identities.Wireless Power Transmission

One potential drawback of electrochromic windows is that the power used,although small in amount, requires a hard wired connection to a powersource of a building. This creates problems when builders areinstalling, for example, a large number of windows in an officebuilding. Having to deal with hard wiring required for windows is justanother impediment that a builder must deal with in the long list ofitems necessary to build a modern structure. Also, althoughelectrochromic windows offer an elegant solution that improves lighting,heating, and occupant comfort in a modern building, electrochromicwindows that require hard wired power sources create impediments tointegration into automated energy management systems. Thus theadditional installation costs and risks associated with wires coulddelay the adoption of electrochromic windows in some new constructionprojects and may prevent retrofitting because retrofitting withelectrochromic windows requires additional wiring infrastructure.

In some embodiments wireless power transmission is utilized to providepower to one or more electrochromic windows. In certain embodiments,window antennas constructed similarly to those described herein forcommunications purposes are used for receiving (and optionallytransmitting) wireless power. Wireless power can be used to directlypower an electrochromic device in the window or, in an alternativeembodiment, charge an internal battery or capacitor which powers theoptical transitions and/or maintains optical states of theelectrochromic device(s) in the window. In one embodiment, wirelesspower transmission is received by a receiver that powers more than oneelectrochromic window. Wireless power can also be used to power otheractive devices which are part of, or directly support, theelectrochromic window: for example, motion sensors, light sensors, heatsensors, moisture sensors, wireless communication sensors, windowantennas and the like.

Wireless power transmission is particularly well suited for supplying ECwindows, because EC window transitions are typically driven by lowpotentials, on the order of a few volts. Often, EC windows aretransitioned only a few times per day. Also, wireless power transmissioncan be used to charge an associated battery or other charge storagedevice used to drive optical transitions when needed. In variousembodiments, the charge storage device is positioned on or close to thewindow it powers.

Wireless power transmission finds use in applications whereinstantaneous or continuous energy transfer is needed, butinterconnecting wires are inconvenient, problematic, hazardous, orimpossible. In some embodiments, power is transferred via RF, andtransformed into electrical potential or current by a receiver inelectrical communication with an EC window. One example of a method oftransferring power via RF is described in US Patent Application havingPublication No. 20160020647, published Jan. 21, 2016, entitled“Integrated Antenna Structure Arrays for Wireless Power Transmission,”by Michael A. Leabman, et al., which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. Certain embodiments include more than one wirelesspower transmission source (herein also referred to a power transmitter),that is, the invention is not limited to embodiments where a singlewireless power transmission source is used. Wireless power transmissionas described herein refers to electromagnetic transmission; in primaryembodiments wireless power transmission refers to RF transmission.

FIG. 17 depicts the interior of a room 1704 that is configured forwireless power transmission. In this example, the room includes atransmitter 1701 that is connected to the electrical infrastructure ofthe building. The transmitter converts electrical power in the form of acurrent passing through a wire 1705 into electrical transmissions thatare transmitted to one or more receivers 1702 (in this case, located inthe corner of each electrochromic window or IGU in room 1704) thatconvert the RF transmissions back into an electrical signal to powertheir associated devices. To reduce losses in power transmissionresulting from the absorption and reflection of RF waves, transmittersmay be placed in a central location such as a ceiling or a wall thatpreferably has line of site to all receivers. In the depictedembodiment, transmitter 1701 is located in the ceiling of the room.Electrical devices receiving power have at least one associated receiverto convert the RF transmissions into useable electrical energy andpower. When one or more IGUs are configured to receive power wirelesslyfrom a transmitter, the transmitter may also be configured to wirelesslypower additional electronic devices 1703 such as a laptop or mobiledevice. Each of these devices may include a receiver.

As previously mentioned, transmitters are typically placed in a locationthat is central to the devices being powered. In many cases this means atransmitter will be located on a ceiling or a wall such that it canpower multiple IGUs in close proximity. To improve wirelesstransmission, transmitters may employ directional antenna designs inwhich RF transmissions are directed at a receiver. Directional antennasinclude designs such as Yagi, log-periodic, corner reflector, patch, andparabolic antennas. In some cases antenna structures may be configuredto emit waves at a particular polarization. For example, antennas mayhave vertical or horizontal polarization, right hand or left-handpolarization, or elliptical polarization.

A typical transmitter includes an array of antennas that may be operatedindependently of each other to transmit controlled three-dimensionalradiofrequency waves which may converge in space. Waves may becontrolled to form constructive interference patterns, or pockets ofenergy, at a location where a receiver is located through phase and/oramplitude adjustments. In certain embodiments, an array of antennascovers about 1 to 4 square feet of surface area on flat or parabolicpanel. Antennas may be arranged in rows, columns, or any otherarrangement. In general, greater numbers of antennas allow for greaterdirectional control of the transmitted electrical power. In some casesan antenna array includes more than about 200 structures, and in somecases an antenna array may consist of more than about 400 structures. Atypical transmitter may be able to deliver about 10 watts of power to asingle receiver located in close proximity to the transmitter, e.g.,less than 10 feet from the transmitter. If multiple devices aresimultaneously powered, or if receivers are located at greater distancesfrom the transmitter, the power delivered to each receiver may bereduced. For example, if power is transmitted simultaneously to fourreceivers at a distance of 10-15 feet, the power delivered at eachreceiver may be reduced to 1-3 watts.

In some implementations, a transmitter includes one or moreradiofrequency integrated circuits (RFICs), where each RFIC controlstransmissions by adjusting the phase and/or magnitude of RFtransmissions from one or more antennas. In certain embodiments, eachRFIC receives instructions for controlling one or more antennas from amicrocontroller containing logic for determining how the antennas shouldbe controlled to form pockets of energy at the location of one or morereceivers. In some instances the location of one or more receivers maybe passed to a transmitter by an antenna network using the geo-locationand positioning methods such as those described elsewhere herein. Toreceive information pertinent to delivering wireless power toelectrochromic windows or other devices, the transmitter may beconfigured to communicate with a window antenna network or anothernetwork that can, e.g., provide receiver location information. Incertain embodiments, the transmitter includes a component for wirelesscommunication over a protocol such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, ZigBee, EnOceanand the like.

In some embodiments, a transmitter includes an array of planarinverted-F antennas (PIFAs) integrated with artificial magneticconductor (AMC) metamaterials. The PIFA design can provide a small formfactor, and AMC metamaterials can provide an artificial magneticreflector to direct the orientation that energy waves are emitted.Further information regarding how PIFA antennas may be used with AMCmetamaterials to create a transmitter can be found in US PatentApplication having Publication No. 20160020647, published Jan. 21, 2016,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIG. 18 illustrates the components of a transmitter structure. Thetransmitter is encased by housing 1801 which may be made from anysuitable material that does not substantially impede the passage ofelectromagnetic waves such as plastic or hard rubber. Inside the housinga transmitter contains a plurality of antennas 1802 that may be used totransmit radiofrequency waves in bandwidths that conform with FederalCommunications Commission (or other governmental regulator of wirelesscommunications) regulations. A transmitter structure further includesone or more RFICs 1803, at least one microcontroller 1804, and acomponent for wireless communication 1805. A transmitter is alsoconnected to a power source 1806, typically the wired electricalinfrastructure of the building.

In some embodiments a component for wireless communication 1805 includesa micro-location chip allowing the transmitter's position to bedetermined by an antenna network that communicates via pulse-basedultra-wideband (UWB) technology (ECMA-368 and ECMA-369). In otherembodiments, a component for wireless communication may include an RFIDtag or another similar device.

Wireless power receivers may be located in a variety of locations withinclose proximity to a transmitter, such as at a location within the sameroom as a transmitter. In the case of a receiver paired to anelectrochromic window, a receiver may be located in a window controller,proximate an IGU (e.g., inside the frame of the window assembly), orlocated a short distance away from an IGU but electrically connected toa window controller. In some embodiments antennas of a receiver arelocated on one or more lites of an IGU. In some embodiments, a receivercomponent is built upon a non-conductive substrate (such as flexibleprinted circuit board) on which antenna elements are printed, etched, orlaminated, and the receiver is attached to the surface of a lite. Whenone or more IGUs are configured to receive power wirelessly from atransmitter, the transmitter may also be configured to wirelessly poweradditional electronic devices such as a laptop or mobile device.

FIG. 19 depicts the structure of a receiver that may be used withelectrochromic windows. Similar to the transmitter, the receiverincludes one or more of antenna elements 1902 that may be connected inseries, parallel, or a combination thereof, to a rectifier. The antennaelements then pass an alternating current signal corresponding to thealternating RF waves that have been received to a rectifying circuit1903, which converts the alternating current voltage to a direct currentvoltage. The direct current voltage is then passed to a power converter1904, such as a DC-DC converter that is used to provide a constantvoltage output. In some cases a receiver includes or is connected to anenergy storage device 1906 such as a battery or a supercapacitor thatstores energy for later use. In the case of a window, a powered device1907 may include a window controller, window antennas, sensorsassociated with the window, or an electrochromic device. When thereceiver includes or is connected to an energy storage device, amicrocontroller or other suitable processor logic may be used todetermine whether received power is used immediately by the device 1907or is stored 1906 for later use. For example, if a receiver harvestsmore energy than is currently needed by a powered device (e.g., to tinta window), the excess energy may be stored in a battery. The receivermay further include a wireless communication interface or module 1908configured to communicate with a window network, an antenna network, aBMS, etc. Using such interface or module, the microcontroller or othercontrol logic associated with the receiver can request power to betransmitted from a transmitter. In some embodiments, the receiverincludes a micro-location chip that communicates via pulse-basedultra-wideband (UWB) technology (ECMA-368 and ECMA-369), therebyallowing the receiver's position to be determined by, e.g., a window orantenna network, which can provide the location to the transmitter.Other types of locating devices or systems may be employed to assist thetransmitter and associated transmission logic to wirelessly deliverpower to the appropriate locations (the locations of the receivers).

In some cases, some or all of the receiver components are stored inhousing 1801 which may be made from any suitable material for allowingelectromagnetic transmission such as plastic or hard rubber. In aprimary embodiment a receiver shares a housing with a window controller.In some instances, the wireless communications component 1908,microcontroller 1905, converter 1904, and energy storage devices 1906have shared functionality with other window controller operations.

As explained, a receiver may have a component that provides locationinformation and/or instructs a transmitter to transmit power. In someinstances the receiver or a nearby associated component such as anelectrochromic window or window controller provides the location of areceiver and/or instructs the transmitter where power transmissions areto be sent. In some embodiments, a transmitter may not rely oninstructions from a receiver to determine power transmissions. Forexample, a transmitter may be configured during installation to sendpower transmissions to one or more specified locations corresponding tothe placement of one or more receivers at fixed positions or at movablepositions that relocate at specified time intervals. In another example,instructions for power transmissions may be sent by a module orcomponent other than the receiver; e.g., by a BMS or a remote deviceoperated by a user. In yet another example, instructions for powertransmissions may be determined from data collected from sensors, suchas photosensors and temperature sensors, from which a relationship hasbeen made to the power needs of electrochromic windows.

The antenna array receiver may include antenna elements having distinctpolarizations; for example, vertical or horizontal polarization, righthand or left-hand polarization, or elliptical polarization. When thereis one transmitter emitting RF signals of a known polarization, areceiver may have antenna elements of a matching polarization and incases when the orientation of RF transmission is not known antennaelements may have a variety of polarizations.

In certain embodiments a receiver includes between about 20 and 100antennas that are capable of delivering between about 5 to 10 volts topowered devices. In a primary embodiment antenna elements are patchantennas with length and width dimensions varying between about 1 mm and25 mm. In some cases other antenna designs are used includingmeta-material antennas, and dipole antennas. In some instances thespacing between antennas of a receiver is extremely small; for examplebetween 5 nm and 15 nm.

CONCLUSION

In one or more aspects, one or more of the functions described may beimplemented in hardware, digital electronic circuitry, analog electroniccircuitry, computer software, firmware, including the structuresdisclosed in this specification and their structural equivalentsthereof, or in any combination thereof. Certain implementations of thesubject matter described in this document also can be implemented as oneor more controllers, computer programs, or physical structures, forexample, one or more modules of computer program instructions, encodedon a computer storage media for execution by, or to control theoperation of window controllers, network controllers, and/or antennacontrollers. Any disclosed implementations presented as or forelectrochromic windows can be more generally implemented as or forswitchable optical devices (including windows, mirrors, etc.)

Various modifications to the embodiments described in this disclosuremay be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the genericprinciples defined herein may be applied to other implementationswithout departing from the spirit or scope of this disclosure. Thus, theclaims are not intended to be limited to the implementations shownherein, but are to be accorded the widest scope consistent with thisdisclosure, the principles and the novel features disclosed herein.Additionally, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate, the terms “upper” and “lower” are sometimes used for ease ofdescribing the figures, and indicate relative positions corresponding tothe orientation of the figure on a properly oriented page, and may notreflect the proper orientation of the devices as implemented.

Certain features that are described in this specification in the contextof separate implementations also can be implemented in combination in asingle implementation. Conversely, various features that are describedin the context of a single implementation also can be implemented inmultiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination.Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certaincombinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more featuresfrom a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from thecombination, and the claimed combination may be directed to asubcombination or variation of a sub combination.

Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particularorder, this does not necessarily mean that the operations are requiredto be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, orthat all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirableresults. Further, the drawings may schematically depict one more exampleprocesses in the form of a flow diagram. However, other operations thatare not depicted can be incorporated in the example processes that areschematically illustrated. For example, one or more additionaloperations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or betweenany of the illustrated operations. In certain circumstances,multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous. Moreover, theseparation of various system components in the implementations describedabove should not be understood as requiring such separation in allimplementations, and it should be understood that the described programcomponents and systems can generally be integrated together in a singlesoftware product or packaged into multiple software products.Additionally, other implementations are within the scope of thefollowing claims. In some cases, the actions recited in the claims canbe performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: (a) a window comprising: (i) one or more lites, each lite having two surfaces, wherein the one or more lites are configured to provide a view through the window; and (ii) a plurality of antennas disposed on one or more of the surfaces of the lites, wherein the antennas are configured to emit or receive radio frequency (RF) signals to and from an interior environment and/or an exterior environment of a building in which the window is installed; (b) a controller configured to control emission and reception of the RF signals from the plurality of antennas; and (c) an electrochromic device comprising a transparent conductive layer disposed on one of the surfaces of the lites, the electrochromic device comprising a transparent conductive layer, wherein the plurality of antennas is disposed in or on the transparent conductive layer.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to emit the RF signals having different radiation patterns or different frequencies.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to independently control the emission of the RF signals from each antenna of the plurality of antennas.
 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the controller is further configured to control the frequency, the power, the polarization and/or the phase of the RF signals emitted from each of the antennas.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to independently control the phase and/or frequency of the emitted RF signals such that, in combination, the RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere in a resulting wavefront to provide directionality and/or gain to the combination of RF signals.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to map the exterior environment or the interior environment by independently controlling phase and/or frequency of the RF signals emitted from the plurality of antennas.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of antennas is a strip line antenna, a patch antenna, a monopole antenna, a fractal antenna, a Yagi antenna or a log periodic antenna.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is formed of a substantially transparent conductive material.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the substantially transparent conductive material comprises one or more of a conductive ink, indium tin oxide (ITO) or fluorinated tin oxide (FTO).
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is patterned using conductive material nano-printing.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to drive an optical transition of the electrochromic device.
 12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a ground plane disposed on one of the surfaces of the one or more lites.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to emit the RF signals at an industrial, scientific and medical (ISM) radio band.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to emit the RF signals at CBRS, Wi-Fi or cellular radio bands.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to emit the RF signals at a power and frequency of transmission compatible with a 4G, 5G or higher cellular communications protocol.
 16. The system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to function as a femtocell or a picocell for cellular communications.
 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the plurality of antennas is configured to function as the femtocell or the picocell in cooperation with one or more other antennas.
 18. The system of claim 1, wherein the window is configured as an insulated glass unit.
 19. A building comprising: (a) a plurality of windows, each window comprising one or more lites and an electrochromic device comprising a transparent conductive layer disposed on one of the surfaces of the lites, the electrochromic device comprising a transparent conductive layer; (b) a plurality of antennas disposed in or on the plurality of windows, each antenna configured to emit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals into and/or out of the building; and (c) one or more controllers, wherein: the one or more controllers are configured to control the emission and reception of RF signals by the plurality of antennas; and each antenna is disposed in or on the transparent conductive layer.
 20. The building of claim 19, wherein the one or more controllers are further configured to independently control the frequencies and/or phases of the emitted RF signals such that, in combination, the RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere in a resulting wavefront to provide directionality and/or gain to the combination of RF signals.
 21. The building of claim 19, wherein the one or more controllers are configured to map an exterior environment or an interior environment of the building based on the RF signals received by the plurality of antennas.
 22. The building of claim 19, wherein at least one of the plurality of windows comprises an electrochromic device and a respective controller of the one or more controllers is further configured to drive an optical transition of the electrochromic device.
 23. A controller configured to control emission and reception of the RF signals from a plurality of antennas associated with a window configured to be installed between an interior environment and an exterior environment, wherein: (a) the window includes one or more lites, each lite having two surfaces, and an electrochromic device comprising a transparent conductive layer disposed on one of the surfaces of the lites, the electrochromic device comprising a transparent conductive layer, wherein the one or more lites are configured to provide a view through the window; and (b) each antenna is disposed in or on one or the transparent conductive layer and is configured to emit and receive radio frequency (RF) signals to and from the interior environment and/or the exterior environment.
 24. The controller of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to cause the plurality of antennas to emit RF signals having different radiation patterns or different frequencies.
 25. The controller of claim 24, wherein the controller is configured to independently control the emission and reception of the RF signals from each antenna of the plurality of antennas.
 26. The controller of claim 25, wherein the controller is further configured to control the frequency, the power, the polarization and/or the phase of the RF signals emitted from each of the antennas.
 27. The controller of claim 26, wherein the controller is configured to independently control the phase and/or frequency of the emitted RF signals such that, in combination, the RF signals constructively and/or destructively interfere in a resulting wavefront to provide directionality and/or gain to the combination of RF signals.
 28. The controller of claim 25, wherein the controller is further configured to map the exterior environment or the interior environment by independently controlling phase and/or frequency of the RF signals emitted from the plurality of antennas.
 29. The controller of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to drive an optical transition of an electrochromic device disposed on one of the one or more lites.
 30. The controller of claim 23, wherein the controller is configured to cause the plurality of antennas to emit RF signals at a power and frequency of transmission compatible with a 4G, a 5G or higher cellular communications protocol.
 31. The controller of claim 30, wherein the controller is configured to cause the plurality of antennas to function as a femtocell or a picocell for cellular communications.
 32. The controller of claim 31, wherein the controller is configured to cause the plurality of antennas to function as the femtocell or the picocell in cooperation with one or more other antennas. 